Relations between the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District and the Village of Barrington are reportedly deteriorating, with both parties considering a possible separation. During a recent joint special meeting, representatives from both sides engaged in a heated discussion, sharing concerns and frustrations that have been building over time.

Barrington Countryside, which provides fire services to an area spanning more than 40 square miles, has expressed dissatisfaction with the current contractual arrangement. They are seeking greater flexibility to hire additional staff and invest in new equipment without relying on village approval. “We’re currently limited in what we can do,” said Barrington Countryside President Tom Rowan. “We can’t act independently.”

A key issue under discussion is the need for a new water tender—a large fire truck capable of carrying and deploying water from a high-pressure cannon. Rowan explained that the district’s existing tender is outdated and being phased out. Given the lack of fire hydrants in the area, the board believes they need a replacement to better serve the community.

However, village officials argue that a smaller tender was approved three years ago, and they believe a larger vehicle is unnecessary. They also point to the district’s low number of fires and strong mutual-aid agreements with neighboring departments as reasons to avoid further spending.

Both sides agreed that the next step should be for the fire district to formally submit a letter detailing its requests and justifications. While the current intergovernmental agreement doesn’t expire until the end of 2013, fire district leaders are pushing for changes sooner rather than later.

If their demands aren’t met, both parties appear open to ending the relationship. For Barrington Countryside, this could mean either establishing its own fire department or seeking a different service provider. Village Trustee Robert Windon emphasized the importance of operational efficiency and taxpayer responsibility. “We want to run our department the way we think it should be—efficiently and with the best interests of the people in mind,” he said. “If you don’t agree, that’s fine. At the end of the contract, we’ll part ways.”

You can read the full article here.

For more background on the ongoing issues between the two entities, check out these previous reports: here, here, here, and here.

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