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Dixmoor to shutdown fire department
The Southtown Star, a publication of the Sun-Times, is reporting that the village of Dixmoor is shutting down its fire department as of December 1, 2013. This decision comes as the financially troubled village attempts to cut costs amid ongoing budget challenges.
In a letter dated Tuesday, the village attorney informed the union representing fire department employees that the dissolution would take effect on December 1. The village’s mayor, Dorothy Armstrong, had previously highlighted a severe budget shortfall, estimating it at over $1 million. Maintaining the fire department cost the village nearly $773,000 annually — a third of its total revenue — despite having only 20 firefighters on staff.
I tried reaching Mayor Armstrong for comment but was unable to get a response. However, several village employees confirmed the closure date. Tim McDonald, president of Local 73 of the Service Employees International Union, stated that the new mayor had been pushing for this move for years, even before she became mayor. He criticized the process, saying the village board passed the resolution in a special meeting without allowing public input.
McDonald also mentioned that six of the 12 full-time firefighters had already been laid off, with about a dozen part-timers still employed. A firefighter who asked not to be named said the village plans to contract with the Harvey Fire Department for emergency services and hire a private ambulance company for paramedics. But there are concerns about what will happen after November 30, when current firefighters stop working.
Dixmoor, one of the smallest and poorest suburbs in the Chicago area, has a population of just 3,644, according to the 2010 census. The median household income is around $38,817, and nearly 35% of residents live below the poverty line. The village has a long history of corruption and mismanagement, including scandals involving the park district, where officials were found guilty of embezzling funds meant for community projects.
Mayor Donald Luster, who ran on the promise of "bringing the Luster back to Dixmoor," was sentenced to probation for fraud and tax evasion. More recently, former Mayor Keevan Grimmett was removed from the ballot for not living at his registered address, and Trustee Michael Smith resigned after pleading guilty to stealing gas from the town.
The financial instability has led to more than just budget issues. Recently, it was reported that only three of the five police cars had fuel, and the fire chief complained about unpaid staff. The union claims that firefighters are paid between $12 and $13 an hour, which amounts to roughly $28,000 a year — far below what other village workers earn.
McDonald explained that the union had won a grievance over back pay but hadn’t yet received the money. He said they were being “nice†in the past, but now they’re ready to push harder, especially with the fire department set to dissolve. The union believes the village owes each firefighter about $12,000 due to raises given to the police department without compensating the firefighters.
While some may argue that a small village like Dixmoor doesn’t need a fire department, others believe the residents deserve basic services. McDonald pointed out that if neighboring departments are busy elsewhere, who will respond to emergencies in Dixmoor? And how will the village afford to pay what it owes?
It's clear that trust in local leadership is low. Officials rarely speak publicly, and for good reason — the village has a reputation for poor governance and wasted resources. As I’ve warned before, many south suburbs are on the brink of financial collapse, and Dixmoor is one of them.
Whether closing the fire department is the right move or not, it’s hard not to question the credibility of leaders who have repeatedly failed to manage the village responsibly. Residents continue to pay taxes, yet they see little return on their investment. For them, this is another example of a system that isn't working — and it’s time for real change.