Excerpts from rrstar.com: The Loves Park City Council is exploring ways to strengthen its volunteer fire department by introducing a daytime crew, aiming to reduce response times that are currently twice as slow as those of the neighboring North Park Fire Protection District. With an average response time of 15.2 minutes compared to just 6 minutes in North Park, the city is under pressure to improve its emergency services. Currently, Loves Park’s approximately 35 volunteer firefighters respond from their homes when emergencies occur, which contributes to slower arrival times. To address this, the city plans to establish a full-time day crew at the 400 Grand Ave. station, operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., potentially starting in August. The team would consist of three firefighters and two supervisors, working around 28 hours per week. Firefighters on the day crew would be paid between $12 and $20 per hour, depending on experience. However, due to the part-time nature of the role, there will be no health insurance benefits offered. This initiative is expected to cost the city up to $200,000 annually, increasing the fire department’s budget by 33 percent—bringing it to $1 million per year. Recent data from the first three months of the year highlights some areas for improvement. For example, it took 27 minutes to reach 7349 Chucks Way, and 24 minutes for both 12414 Kings Point Dr. and 5625 Covey Ridge Trail. Despite these challenges, the city has seen some positive results from a new auto aid agreement with North Park, which helped bring average response times down to 13.3 minutes in March—a significant improvement from 17.6 minutes in February and 15.3 minutes in January. Still, the city faces ongoing logistical hurdles. The mayor is pushing for the construction of a new fire station estimated to cost around $5 million. This new facility would be strategically located near Mercyhealth Sportscore Two and the upcoming Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center at the intersection of East Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 90. With no property tax in place, the city must explore alternative funding options such as bonds or seeking voter approval for new revenue sources to support the project. As Loves Park continues to work on improving its emergency response capabilities, the focus remains on balancing budget constraints with the need for better public safety. Customized Fence Panel,Contemporary Fence Panels,Trellis Fence Panels,Wire Mesh Panels ANPING COUNTY ANSHENG WIRE MESHES PRODUCT CO.,LTD. , https://www.aswiremesh.com