PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – After a passionate discussion, Peoria Heights trustees approved a plan to have Peoria firefighters automatically dispatched to emergency calls.
25 News reports Mayor Matt Wigginton was the tie-breaking vote Tuesday night for the plan that calls for reimbursements for calls such as fires and vehicle extrications.
Those against the proposal feel the plan could cost the village money. But Trustee Nathan Steinwedel says the agreement will take response times to a “survivable window.”
Interim Fire Chief Tony Ardis expressed frustration with the proposal.
“It begs to ask, how come it was recognized for vehicle extrications to have the quickest response possible, yet when it comes to fires, that’s not the case,” said Ardis.
One of the no votes came from Trustee Brandon Wisenburg, who proposed several amendments to the plan. He says the agreement “undermines the very nature of mutual aid.”
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