Unless there’s a change during the official canvass—something McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski doesn’t expect—the residents of the village have rejected a proposal to dissolve the local fire department and join a fire protection district.

The measure ended in a 56-56 tie following the March 18 referendum. While ties in candidate races are typically resolved by a coin toss, ballot questions require at least one vote in favor to pass.

“If the numbers stay the same, which I don’t see happening, the referendum is officially defeated,” Tobolski said after last week’s election. “Now my focus is on rebuilding relationships and returning to the negotiating table with the firefighters.” He added, “We asked the community a question, and they made their choice—they want to keep the fire department.”

Tobolski mentioned that discussions with the firefighters’ union will resume to negotiate a new contract. He reiterated the concerns he raised before the vote, including the fact that McCook’s firefighters are not paramedics and cannot provide advanced life support. Additionally, maintaining the department is a significant financial burden on the village.

“We still have over a million dollars in payroll,” he noted. Tobolski also mentioned alternative options, such as an intergovernmental agreement with a neighboring fire protection district, but he hasn’t decided to pursue that path yet. “The voters clearly expressed their preference against joining a fire protection district,” he said. “Our next step is to work toward a fair and sustainable contract with the firefighters.”

Voter turnout for the referendum was notably high, reaching 64.2 percent—well above the county average of about 15 percent. Out of 176 registered voters in McCook, 113 cast their ballots, according to the Cook County Clerk’s office.

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