Woodstock Fire Rescue District news

Woodstock Fire Chief Ralph Webster has announced that changes are coming to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District following the decision not to renew its contract with the Village of Lakewood.

For the past five years, Woodstock has been responsible for staffing Lakewood’s only fire station on Haligus Road. However, that station will now be closing. According to Webster, 12 employees from the Woodstock Fire Rescue District currently staff the station, and he is working on a plan to retain as many as possible—but not all can stay.

"There's going to have to be some changes," Webster said. "That could mean reducing hours across the board or even eliminating certain positions."

The Lakewood Village Board voted 3-1, with one trustee abstaining, to accept a slightly cheaper contract from the Crystal Lake Fire Department. This new deal ties future increases to the village’s tax base, rather than continuing with Woodstock’s agreement.

Under the previous arrangement, Woodstock’s contract would have cost $750,000 in the first year, with a 1.5% annual increase for the next four years. The village would also have paid $25,000 annually toward equipment purchases.

The new deal with Crystal Lake is expected to cost around $744,000 in the first year. This amount is calculated using Crystal Lake’s tax rate applied to Lakewood’s property base, and it will adjust annually over a 10-year period, with the option to renew every five years.

Crystal Lake Fire Chief Paul DeRaedt confirmed that the Bard Road station—built specifically to serve Lakewood—will remain open with its current staff of four to five personnel.

Webster plans to present his proposed changes to the Woodstock Fire Rescue District Board of Trustees after the new year, with implementation set to begin in February.

For Lakewood, the shift means the village will no longer need to build a new fire station. It will also be able to sell its fire equipment and pay off an internal loan, according to a memo from Village Manager Catherine Peterson.