(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — After more than six decades of relying on Salem Lakes for emergency fire and medical services, the Village of Paddock Lake has officially ended its contract with the Salem Lakes Fire and Rescue Department. The decision, finalized by a vote of the Paddock Lake Village Board, shifts fire and EMS coverage to the Village of Bristol beginning in 2026—delivering a significant financial blow to Salem Lakes and raising questions about fiscal management and leadership transparency.
The split stems from growing frustrations over ballooning costs and what Paddock Lake officials characterize as a breakdown in communication and accountability from Salem Lakes leadership. According to public records, Salem Lakes President Rita Bucur sent a formal letter to Paddock Lake in April outlining a significant cost increase, citing call volume and a new formula based on service usage rather than property values. Bucur proposed increasing Paddock Lake’s annual contract from $393,680 to $786,957 and suggested switching to a five-year deal with built-in inflation adjustments.
But Paddock Lake Administrator Tim Popanda said the letter read more like an ultimatum than a good-faith effort to collaborate. “I don’t believe they were [willing to negotiate]. If the letter does not say, ‘reach out to us for negotiations,’ or ‘we’re willing to accept your counteroffer,’ nothing like that. If you read that letter, it’s pretty demanding,” Popanda told Kenosha County Eye.
Complicating matters further was an ongoing dispute over a fire truck purchased by Paddock Lake using unrestricted surplus funds as part of a long-term service credit agreement. The truck—a 2023 heavy rescue unit—was later deemed too large for operational use by Salem Lakes. The village expressed interest in selling the truck through a third-party dealer, estimating it could fetch as much as $900,000, which would be $78,000 more than its purchase price. Salem proposed handling the sale under Paddock Lake’s supervision, with proceeds (minus commissions) returned to Paddock Lake.
However, Salem Lakes also took the position that after 8.5 years of credit application, ownership of the truck should revert to them. If Paddock Lake rejected that arrangement, Salem wanted either reimbursement for the applied credits or its share of the sale proceeds. This ultimatum further strained relations.
Documents confirm that Salem Lakes attempted to renegotiate its contract based on updated emergency call volumes. Citing that Paddock Lake accounted for 28 percent of its total service calls, Salem Lakes argued it was no longer fair for Paddock Lake to contribute just 15 percent of the department’s budget, as was set in the previous equalized assessed value formula. But Paddock Lake officials questioned the legitimacy of those numbers, with Popanda alleging in internal communications that “the data and numbers have been cooked.”
Trust and transparency between the two villages appear to have eroded further. In a February 2024 email, Popanda accused Salem Lakes of manipulating data and misreporting call volumes to justify increased fees. Meanwhile, Salem Lakes officials insisted that their reports were accurate and that their service levels—including 24/7 paramedic staffing—were unmatched.
The contract dispute also revived scrutiny of Salem Lakes leadership. At the May 5, 2025, board meeting, Salem Lakes Trustee Bill Hopkins publicly criticized a community bulletin board website, West of The I, for allegedly spreading misinformation about the fire department.
“A recent article on West of The I contained inaccurate information regarding costs and response times for the Salem Fire/Rescue Department,” Hopkins said. “Residents of Paddock Lake are invited to attend tonight’s meeting or watch it on YouTube. We will address the misinformation provided to West of The I.”
Meanwhile, Kenosha County Eye has also learned that efforts by Paddock Lake to explore regional collaboration—including a multi-municipality EMS consortium—were met with mixed reactions. Some municipalities expressed hesitation about partnering with Salem Lakes.
In one particularly telling moment during a phone interview, Popanda confirmed that Salem’s administrator had asked Paddock Lake to join in a joint referendum to raise the tax levy—an idea he flatly rejected.
“We told Cassandra absolutely not,” Popanda said. “We are not doing a referendum and placing that on our taxpayers.”
The revenue loss to Salem Lakes—approximately half a million dollars—is expected to ripple through the village’s 2026 budget. And with credibility questions now surfacing publicly, Village Administrator Cassandra Hiller may face increased scrutiny from residents and neighboring municipalities.
Despite the friction, Paddock Lake officials emphasized that the change was not personal—it was financial. “Our board based it on the dollar amount,” Popanda said. “We’re trying to be good stewards of taxpayer money.”
Village President Alex Attiah also issued a formal statement to reassure residents and express appreciation for past service:
“First, I want to thank the men and women of the VOSL Fire/EMS department for decades of professional and quality services to the residents of the Village of Paddock Lake. The Village of Paddock Lake’s decision not to renew the VOSL Fire/EMS Services Agreement is not a reflection on the services provided by the men and women of the VOSL Fire/EMS Department.
Second, I want to state that I am confident in the men and women of the Village of Bristol Fire/EMS Department to provide the Village of Paddock Lake residents with quality Fire/EMS services. Additionally, I am confident in the Village of Bristol Fire Chief, Village Administration, and Village Board to responsibly manage the Fire/EMS services in a fiscally responsible manner, provide accurate, detailed and timely reports to VOPL, honor our mutually agreeable agreement, and work cohesively in an honest and transparent manner.
Thank you.”
– Alex Attiah, Village President
Neither Village Administrator Cassandra Hiller nor Village President Rita Bucur responded to a request for comment.
But for many in Salem Lakes, including residents now left with a gaping budget shortfall and a growing list of public relations missteps, the damage may already be done.
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169 Responses
So much for these communities working together. That happens when you bring in a bureaucrat to run a Village. I hear she saved all this money that can’t be verified, but the spending is crazy. The legal cost for this failed deal is probably 10’s of thousands. Thanks Salem Lakes
Rita? Cassandra ?
It was early last year or even further back when Cassandra said in open meetings the dollars she found and saved. Over $400K as I recall
I remember Rita saying she was going to get a tote board to track those dollars.
Regardless of the new budget those dollars are still active year to year savings.
You don’t have to be running for reelection to bring those numbers out for us to see.
Cassandra, you need to chime in here. Just to set the record straight
Don’t hold your breath with those unsubstantiated savings. It was spent, look at the budget, spending at record high.
On OTHER THINGS !!
That’s the point. She saved money that could be better spent elsewhere.
No different than any home budget.
Get a better cheaper phone plan, spend the savings on a new TV.
So, if you spend money you saved, is it saved? Just asking
That allows other things to be done without “more money”
Depends, one time savings or reoccurring. New spending one time expense or reoccurring. It matter for future budgets and the tentacles that are attached to that short or long term expense.
Appears Bucur has checked out and Hiller is busy with the DNR nightmare. Carr seems to be the only bright shiny star in Salem right now. The employees are trying to manage constant turn over and chaos. Citizens better wake up, the mentally challenged are ruling the day over there.
Because this current Salem administration has been correcting and creating all the processes that are required of being a Village.
You all seem to think that all government is the same. Being a Town is different than being a Village.
Dianne Tesar and her other board members kicked many a can down the road on the responsibilities they took on when Salem became a village.
Remember the public hearing for the Silver Lake Lake District ?
The one that didn’t happen during Covid ?
A hundred people in the parking lot at village hall and she canceled the meeting/hearing because of social distancing.
Everyone waited days and weeks for her to reschedule it at a local school gym but it never happened. Why ? Because in her own words “ We’ve never done something like this before.”
Exactly !!
That’s because as a Town it wasn’t under their purview. Everything important went straight to the county.
Rita and her board are dragging Salem kicking and screaming into proper governance on the Village level.
Cassandra completely understands this. Rita understands this. They have tried to explain to the residents that being a village cost more than being a town.
Did Cassandra misstep ? You bet !! Though in the end this walk path fiasco might not be as big of a hit people seem to think it is. Those ramifications will come out soon.
Overall you all are blaming the messenger.
If the fire department was under charging for all these past years, that’s easy enough to access. We are trying to correct that.
Don’t forget the growth in Paddock Lake in just the last few years. Three, count them, three new retirement homes built.
And what service do they require most ?
Ambulance.
And Alex and his board just added 4 minutes to the response time (triple) for any EMS call to all three of them.
You’re information for response times is incorrect. Bristol will be responding faster than Salem in the evenings and the day time response times averages are equal. I’m happy to show you the data.
You keep saying you have the receipts.
Yet you didn’t know Salem station 2 was 24/7.
And you still haven’t said if you contacted all the retirement homes or the high school to ask their opinions.
Station 2 is not 24/7 manned. At best it has limited manpower and can’t provide full response.
I didn’t refer to receipts. What I did refer to is the response data.
The retirement homes and high were not directly contacted. The meetings were publicly posted and the board meetings were public.
I’m sure if the high school and retirement homes were concerned they would have attended the meetings or sent correspondence directly to the village, which they didnt. Btw The high school has had a long term relationship with Bristol fire/EMS as well.
Station has not been staffed 24/7, until at least this year some time. And it’s only staffed with emts, not paramedics.
Of course the retirement homes didn’t complain. Do you really think they were watching ?
60 years of the same thing. Why would they expect anything to change.
Same with the high school.
You can say station 2 is only EMTs but they are trying to hire people.
Hard to find people with what we can offer to pay. Which goes exactly to the amount of money PL won’t pay
Yes they are trying to hire but that goes against paddock lakes contract with salem. They are suppose to have a paramedic on and transporting every patient. And they do not. They have a paramedic show up initially and them leave and let the patient be transported by the emts.
Carr is a joke, be real
Seems a bit far for Bristol to cover Paddock Lake?
Depends, we will see. I hear Bristol is thrilled about this new relationship.
Yep- and us Bristol taxpayers will eat the bill. Mike Farrell is not a fiscal conservative. We’ve seen our tax bill skyrocket without any services to justify it. My tax bill is similar to Pleasant Prairie’s without any of the services that the Prairie has….
None of these .gov clowns care one bit about their constituents. They tax and spend freely and tell you it’s just the way it is. Salem Lakes seems to be a mess but believe Popanda is no prize either. Paddock Lake is not becoming a better place. Out of control building as all these town officials dream of turning us into Lake County, Il.
Take you Ray Charles glasses off and look around, many great things are happening in the Village. What do expect when your main road is highway 50. You want horse and buggy and dirt roads. New businesses have moved in; older ones are updating. The Park is beautiful and so is the lake. The new Central School addition and fields, that’s what makes a community. If you don’t like that updating to the Village then it time to move to an area off the beaten path, Problem Solved
You mean all the new development destroying farmland isn’t lowering your tax bill? Hahahahahaha
It’s only gonna get worse. Mike Farrell has to go! He way to confident bin not being challenged
I wonder what Hartnell is going to say when they have to wait for Bristol, with Salem walking distance down the street?
Or any call in the brand spanking new subdivision south of them. I think Bear is not going to be happy that this neighborhood will not be covered by Salem!
Steve Mills only wants your money
Better SR than some foreign entity
I saw the video of her squeezing out a tear with the DNR, which probably helped her get a favorable deal with the DNR. Maybe a tear would have gotten Paddock Lake to spend an additional 400k. Only a 60-year relationship was ruined. Maybe Hopkins can explain this to the Salem taxpayers. Hey, we lost about a million in revenue between a contract and insurance reimbursement, but we don’t need Paddock Lake. OH, Great, I guess we can go to the swamp by Village Hall and pick from the Money tree that might be growing back there, if they didn’t cut it down.
A very good story, Kevin. The missing piece, of course, is what to do about it. Any answer requires an understanding of fire departments, especially in rural (or once predominantly rural) communities.
To city folk, fire departments put out fires, rescue people and may provide emergency medical services. They are almost all paid professionals. Away from that, fire departments also put out fires, rescue people and provided emergency medical services but they were much larger than that. Not only a source of community pride they were often the preeminent social (and political) organization in the town. Not only a strong sense of pride and volunteerism but also fraternity. The Somers fire station on Highway E once had an impressive full-service bar!
As times change so have demands on these fire departments which struggle to find volunteers, need more expensive equipment and have a revolving door of paid staff that leave for better paying gigs once they get experience. All of this is superimposed on local politics, as Kevin notes.
The answer may be a tough sell: a regional or county-wide fire, rescue and EMS department. People who worked hard to build up their departments legitimately worry about losing identity and local control. And then there are those unwilling to give up their fiefdoms and, of course, the issue of who will be the chief. But it may be the most effective and cost-effective solution.
This department needs a revamping. When carr got hired as interim chief he didn’t have any experience being a chief. His highest ranking in the city of kenosha was captain. He also did not have an ems license. They hired lieutenants without a hiring process. Others who wanted to apply for that position were told to not apply or that they “had other plans” for them”. Which he didn’t.
The appointment/hiring process is illegal the way they are doing it. First, it’s not posted and second the Fire and Police commission are not a part of it. State should be informed.
Agreed. This needs to come with the help of the Town/Village boards as they hold the purse and also our County Executive. This affects everyone West if the I. Everyone needs to take an interest and start having a voice. There is way too much duplication of services and cover ups going on. Do whats best for the community. Consolidate the departments west of the I.
How are consolidated schools working for u?
What consolidated schools? They are all their own entity out here in the county and each have their own boards.
Already done. It’s called Mutual Aid.
Does anyone really think that if Hartnell called for an ambulance that Salem wouldn’t respond ? Or if any of those new houses catch fire, more than one department wouldn’t show up ?
It is a interesting scenario to ponder how the high school is taking this knowing that a ambulance for a teacher or student in need is sitting less than a half mile away on 83 and they have to wait for Bristol to come from downtown on 45.
I would like to think that they would ask Salem to respond in addition to Bristol. Salem can start treatment and let Bristol take the patient to the hospital.
Maybe Salem can then still get paid ?
What consolidated schools? They are all their own entity out here in the county and each have their own boards.
County exec is busy with photo ops
Did You Know ????
Quote from then Salem Fire Chief James Lejcar.
“They (Paddock Lake) are maxed out on Levy so they are utilizing debt service.” May 2023
Are you Paddock Lake residents aware that your village board is paying part of a monthly expense of Fire Service on long term debt ?
This particular item was negotiated and signed off on years ago by the “old” Salem Board and administration. Even the then Salem Fire Chief was aware of this “shifting” of money.
I questioned this a few years ago (I have the emails) and was told it was completely legitimate. Maybe it is but it is now a bone of contention. This will be part of the “exit bill” Salem will give to Paddock Lake.
Paddock Lake “purchased” a Fire Truck Chassis, not a complete Fire Truck. Then shipped it / gave it to Salem to finish the outfit and put into service in lieu of part of their 12 monthly payments each year for 10 years to get their money back. This chassis is/was valued at $359,415.00
This was because Paddock Lake had a shortfall of money available in their operations budget.
(Salem paid the balance of the $880,000. to finish the truck. $520,585)
Per Paddock Lake meeting agenda May 17, 2023
Look it up !!
Paddock Lake finalized a purchase of a fire truck chassis on 5-17-2023 with long term debt in the amount of $359,415.00.
Per James Lejcar then Salem Fire Chief ;
“They are maxed out on Levy so they are utilizing debt service.”
“Did I answer your questions on the truck? The total price is 880,000 just an fyi. This is a 10year deal.”
The above quotes are from emails I received in May 2023 from then Fire Chief James Lejcar.
PL had “availability” in their long term borrowing so they purchased a half built truck and “gave” it to Salem so they could put part of their Monthly Fire Service Payments onto long term debt.
This is like refinancing your house for ten years to pay for a new car. Maybe it makes sense, maybe it doesn’t.
But the main question is, did you know your village is short on daily money ??
All of this is incorrect. Anyone who has questions about the financing of the Fire Truck should contact the Paddock Lake Village Administrator or President for the correct history
Maybe history they wrote but not all the history.
Salem lakes definitely does not have 24/7 paramedic. They run their ambulances with 2 emt basics generally and have a paramedic chase car with normally doesn’t transport to the hospital. They have the emts transport to keep the paramedic in town due to the poor staffing and continous turnover. 6 months after carr took over the employment turn over surged. This activity violates the plan they have with the state.
A further look should be placed into this!!
How many calls has SL had to ask for mutal aide as they could not get a ” legal” crew out the door.
Quite frequently. He wanted all sorts of help from other departments but turned down his staff when other departments needed his help.
Completely accurate statement. This should be the top comment. The fire department has no paramedics left and this new chief pushed them all away. They can barely meet legal staffing requirements. Kevin should ask for the rosters of each department and you’ll learn quickly where the problem is. Bristol has enough paramedics. Salem has few to none. Also interesting how many Salem personnel have left to go to Bristol. The unsafe and hostile leadership at Salem is very telling.
Yes!!! Most of the paramedics were driven away due to the new management. The 3 cronies have destroyed that department more than Lejcar did.
Your information is woefully incorrect and inaccurate. The fire truck was fully purchased and outfitted by Paddock Lake with 100% of VOPL surplus funds and did not finance the purchase of the truck. Instead the truck was lent to VOSL with interest. Note the truck is 100% owned by VOPL. VOPL didn’t go indebt to purchase and lend the truck to VOSL. I am happy to provide you with anymore information so you don’t have to post misinformation.
Please note my comment was directed to Where To Begin comments
Thanks, Alex for provide the right information. Salem wants to blame PL for a contract they wanted but now hate, too bad. Keep up the good work for the VOPL.
Thank you!
I’ve read all your comments here. Every one.
You tout the great fiscal leadership of the village board. Both current and past. How you are able to fund these projects “out of pocket” instead of going to referendum or raising taxes.
But aren’t these funds that you have available from taxes already ?
Over payments that are put in savings for these road projects ? Parks. Lakes, etc. etc.
Not necessarily a bad thing but, I didn’t know you could have that much money just laying around.
Is that how you were able to come up with $360K to purchase a fire truck ? And by your account, the whole $880K ? All cash ? All paid for ? That’s what you said, isn’t it ? All yours ? You paid for it all ?
You then lend it back to Salem ?
Just happened to have $360.K laying around ?
Or was it $880,000 ?
That said, why hasn’t Paddock Lake built their own fire department after all these years ? 65 years ?
You just bought a truck, didn’t you ?
Was that some of all that “fiscal responsibility” showing ? Realizing that it was cheaper to buy services from the next town over ? Could have built it on 50. East of the sports shop. Or west right next to O’Reillys. Those buildings need to come down anyways, right ? Or even up on K. Pick a corn field. Any corn field.
Even today with your new budget contract with Bristol. Why not just build a fire house ? You could start with just one ambulance. Just for your own residents. And you do have a lot of residents that need ambulances. What do you have now, 3 retirement homes ? Or is it 4 ? And a high school. Wow !! Then maybe a small fire truck. Most of your houses are small anyway. A small cheap fire truck should do the job. If not mutual aid is a radio call away. Salem and Bristol surely will come running. Kansasville too !
Heck, you’ve even got that “new” west side fire hydrant system. You know the ones that were covered up with garbage bags all those years ? The ones you finally forced businesses to connect to because those debts were coming due. The ones PL built for the houses that never got built.
Heck, even the new houses by Hartnell can only happen because you have rights to Salem sewers !!
Seems like Paddock Lake just buys everything. From the lowest bidder.
Well good for you.
That’s called great fiscal management.
Why does VOPL have “surplus” funds? Shouldn’t taxpayers have a say in how that money is spent?
It is surplus, but it is ear marked for capital improvements and money saved over years so paddock lake doesn’t have to borrow money, pay interest and raise taxes.
The residents absolutely do have a day in how the money is spent. Residents can attend board meetings, attend the public village budget meetings, meet with me or village staff to discuss the village budget and how village money is spent. Please feel free to attend a board meeting or schedule a meeting with me or village staff
Yet more collateral damage from the IL democrat.
Cry your way back to IL Hiller.
How many wildlife animals gave up their home for that F- show? It makes me sick, for a walking path as big as a highway. If the DNR doesn’t crack down on this, what message will that send.
Where was this concern about money and funding when Cassandra oversaw the creation of a “walking path” through a C-1 wetland? Don’t tell me the destruction behind the village hall that looks like something out of the Vietnam war didn’t cost the taxpayer a pretty penny. Make it make sense!
Whether it’s fixed back or continues on to be completed correctly, definitely a waste of time and money. Plenty of other uses of personnel and their time to do other things. Like go around the village and repair the damage caused by the winter snow plowing.
Grass has grown up so far as to hide the damage except for the individual homeowner and there push mowers.
Still waiting
Paddock Lake has No post office or separate zip code like Wilmot, Trevor, Silver Lake or Salem. Paddock Lake gets their mail through Salem.
Heck the post office that just “opened up” in PL is nothing more than an extension of Salems due to Salem needing more space. No retail counter service in PL. Just package drop offs.
You have No Fire Department. No Rescue Squad Service. Remember when all communities around had volunteer fire departments and separate volunteer Rescue Squads ??
You didn’t even have those back then.
No Police Department. But that’s ok because as we have seen in the past, those are problematic on a small scale. I’ll give you a pass on that one.
All Paddock Lake has is a lake and a busy Highway.
But even the businesses on that busy highway 50 find it hard to compete. The couple of hot dog stands that have tried can’t make it. It’s a wonder the pancake house stays open.
The Mexican restaurant too.
I’ve ever heard Scooters was for sale.
Your mill tax rate is higher than Salems.
You need our Sewers !!
And that’s a big one. Those new houses off 83 and BD (75) you are proposing ? Where do you think all that s..t is going to go ? It’s going to Salem. As part of the 2006 “Boundary Agreement” that Paddock Lake signed with the then “Town” of Salem.
That wasn’t so much a boundary agreement as it was a land steal ! Salem was slow to the game of becoming a village. They tried hard for years but each time realized that it would cost more than the taxpayers were willing to pay. Hindsight has proven that wrong but that’s water under the bridge now.
Now that we are a Village, the rules have changed.
Go ahead and beat up on Cassandra. But she’s saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for Salem taxpayers in just her short tenure in Salem. At my last count, more than 3 years worth of her Salary.
Yes you’ve read that right. Cassandra has found and corrected and renegotiated more contracts and procedures to pay for herself 3 times over. It might even be 4 times now.
These new fire numbers to Paddock Lake are another example of her figuring out that we in Salem were not charging enough for the Services we were sending to PL. Sure PL can decide to shop around. That’s fine. But do you really think Bristol is a better product ?
Salem has been reinvesting in our Fire Department since the new board came on just a little over two years ago. Buying and reopening the downtown Salem Fire house was one. That was a long process. Still in motion. Per our fire chief, we are 24/7 for ambulances. Some day we’ll be 24/7 fire too.
But this PL/Bristol change is just going to have to play out. Bristol will see the cost be more than they figured. They will most likely try to renegotiate and get more than a 3% bump each year. Even if the contract holds, watch the renewal in 10 years. See how that goes.
What Paddock Lake needs to do is give up the Village certificate and come back to Salem from where they came all those so many years ago. Maybe then we’ll build a new fire station up there. Just for you.
My reply is to Wannabe Village. Your comments are amusing, laughable and woefully incorrect. It appears you’re sore that the village of paddock lake continues to provide it’s residents with professional, fiscally responsible, and transparent services and serves in the best interests of our residents. Additionally, I don’t hide behind an anonymous heading. As the Village President of Paddock Lake, I’m happy and willfully confront disingenuous commentators and represent and serve at the best interest of Paddock Lake residents
Please Alex, don’t puff your chest out too far. As a long time PL resident I see nothing improving the quality of life here. Unbridled building with no coherent planning. Taxes continue to go up even as we “suffer” from all the wonderful development you love to tout. You care nothing for the existing residents as long as you can sell another building permit.
President says:
May 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I am proud to be a village of paddock lake resident and the work the the village staff and board are doing on behalf of it’s residents to improve quality of life and reduce taxes. In the short time I’ve been on the board we have reduced the village tax rate, did so for many previous years and continue to do so, we installed a kayak launch for our disabled and non-disabled residents with donations from both private and charitable organizations, we resurfaced the roadways with a majority of village surplus money, reducing the amount of money the village had to borrow and without increasing property owners taxes and will do so again this year, we have increased police patrols both on the streets and paddock lake, we attracted several businesses to paddock lake that our residents frequent, we recently implemented a sewer rebate program to give money back to our residents, we respect property owner right and though we can legally stop new residential development we can manage to it, we are planning a sports complex/park for residents using money from developers and not resident tax money, the village continues to live within it’s financial means and acts fiscally responsible as the fire/EMS agreement is evidence of, the village supports our local events and charitable organizations and there is so much more. I’m sorry you are not aware of those the things that I listed any many other improvements and benefits the Village of Paddock Lake offers and will continue to do so. I’m happy to meet with you and share more of the improvements and benefits. Feel free to reach out to me.
Maybe people use anonymous because they don’t want to be harassed by village board members.
I’m just here to laugh at the comment that Cassandra saves us money. That’s a big fat lie.
Your are one clueless citizen who has no clue when it comes to fire and rescue. It’s always been when things have gotten bad and out of hand that the citizens had taken an interest. Then it’s too late. This is what happened with Fire and Rescue since Lejcar took over. What Chief Slover did for this department in his 20 plus years, put this Town/Village into the future with a department that was highly respected by departments all over the state. Once Lejcar and Carr got put in the Chief position that neither was close to being qualified for, they put the department back 30 years. And now we also have Mike Keske and Jill Torres appointed into positions that never were posted or went in front of he Police and Fire Commision. This people is illegal, just like many things happening in this Village. The lies and cover ups need to stop. Clean house!!!
Do jobs have to posted when the positions are created specifically for the people? I mean, how sweet of VOSL FD to create full time salaried positions for the lovebirds. At least we save tax money on hotel rooms when Keske and Torres attend conferences and stay together. So, there’s that…
Yes!! Im glad this was mentioned. The only reason she has that position is because her “boyfriend ” is the assistant chief. No hiring process. No nothing. She had the job within a week.
Alex, the saving he has pledged Cassandra has saved-, please look at their budget. Wanna be Village you are delusional that she has saved sh*t, already spent. LOOK AT THE-NUMBERS !!!
Just because the overall budget is larger doesn’t mean that those individual savings didn’t then go to pay for other expenses
BINGO!!!! LOOK AT THE NUMBERS!!!!
More spending = bigger government. The only thing growing in SL is Government.
Lots of half truth, no truth and chest thumping here – in the article by interviewees and in the comments.
If two entities, in business together for a generation, cannot come to good terms, why do those who want to consolidate think it will be better as a large district with more than TWO?
Jealousy is also a factor. It was in the 1970s and it is now too.
We all can see that these shared deals, extending over years (the chassis business) is never good, especially if there is depreciation on the principal.
Bad deal then; bad deal now.
The basis for the “fee” increase is wrong. This service is just like roads, sewer base, muni buildings, police, all supported by taxes based on property value. It is the fair way for services used by residents and visitors and businesses.
The day will come when Paddock Lake will cease to exist. Debt will be the primary cause. Arrogance by the players will be the runner up.
I hesitate to ask the Paddock debt, term, rate and the amount compared to operational expenses that the people if Paddock are paying.
I also hesitate to ask the same of Salem Lakes on their highway/fire building to operational expenses.
I don’t hesitate to ask the amount Salem Lakes taxpayers pay to fire/ems for each tax dollar – how many cents to the dollar in their taxes and that same breakdown that Paddock pays to Salem? Are they equal? It has historically been that Paddock paid less than Salem for the same services.
I doubt I will get response from anyone.
I’m happy to respond. The village of paddock lake operates in a fiscally responsible manner and NOT over budget. There is no reason to believe that paddock lake will cease to exist due to your so called debt and arrogance. Paddock Lake’s budget is audited annually by licensed auditors, paddock lake plans and saves for capital improvements and equipment replacement and operate the village in a fiscally business like manner. Regarding your accusation of arrogance may be your misperception of your jealousy.
The writer will not accept this answer as u didn’t answer the question. Maybe u don’t know. I wasn’t interested in this comment until u didn’t answer it. Now my attention is focused on it!
What is the question? Happy to answer it
Apparently you can’t read.
Indulge me. What is the questions
Last Para idiot. Did u drop out of school?
Please represent yourself with good character. Paddock Lake and Salem lakes agreement was based on equalized assessed value which is how salemlakes presented it to paddock lake. based on equalized assessed value and size of community, paddock lake paid less because our assessed value and community size is smaller then Salem.
I am proud to be a village of paddock lake resident and the work the the village staff and board are doing on behalf of it’s residents to improve quality of life and reduce taxes. In the short time I’ve been on the board we have reduced the village tax rate, did so for many previous years and continue to do so, we installed a kayak launch for our disabled and non-disabled residents with donations from both private and charitable organizations, we resurfaced the roadways with a majority of village surplus money, reducing the amount of money the village had to borrow and without increasing property owners taxes and will do so again this year, we have increased police patrols both on the streets and paddock lake, we attracted several businesses to paddock lake that our residents frequent, we recently implemented a sewer rebate program to give money back to our residents, we respect property owner right and though we can legally stop new residential development we can manage to it, we are planning a sports complex/park for residents using money from developers and not resident tax money, the village continues to live within it’s financial means and acts fiscally responsible as the fire/EMS agreement is evidence of, the village supports our local events and charitable organizations and there is so much more. I’m sorry you are not aware of those the things that I listed any many other improvements and benefits the Village of Paddock Lake offers and will continue to do so. I’m happy to meet with you and share more of the improvements and benefits. Feel free to reach out to me.
Alex, you’re doing great. Government is working solidly for the people. Tim Popanda plays a huge part in that success. The VOPL is working with what they have, very well. Thank you
Thank you!!
This response is to paddock lake resident for 40 years
You always tout the “tax rate” or mill rate but it’s completely irrelevant when property values are rising rapidly. Fact is, taxes go up. Unless the mill rate decreases at a corresponding rate to the property values are increases, taxes go up. You love to tell all these wonderous things you’re doing. Don’t any of these new developments pay taxes?
It sounds to me that you had an obligation to negotiate with a 60 year relationship and you chose not to. I have no confidence that there is a lot more to this story. It’s become very hard to trust anything coming out of village hall
It would be nice to have certain guidelines on the aesthetics of new construction along Hwy 50. Our town could is located along the pathway to Lake Geneva. We have nothing appeasing that would draw people to stop and spend time in our town, except to fill up with gas and stock up on their liquor. We need major work on beautification of our town to draw people here, to support our village. Look at Pleasant Prairie along Hwy 50. The buildings are attractive and are appeasing to the eye. People look at that and stop to check them out. It would be so nice to have guidelines on what a building should consist of and have uniformity. Ww have so much to offer. Let’s that pride in what we do so that people will come and support our area and not just drive through it.
This is valid. Go to the board meetings and suggest this so that it could be voted on ~
Why do you have so much “surplus” money Alex? Plundering taxpayers?
He will need it to drill another well to support the fre building that Bristol will build for him.
What building are you referring to?
The opposite. Nee are being fiscally responsible for village residents. Managing taxpayer money responsibly so we can provide paddock lake residents with financial benefits such as sewer rebates, continue to look for ways to reduce the mill rate, not raise our residents taxes and ask for a referendum to increase taxes. Additionally, of you review my other comments, the “surplus” is saved over years to fund capital improvements without having to take out loans with interest or raise taxes.
Sometimes in businesses you need to create revenue through partnerships. Yes, sometimes the tax dollar one pays isn’t enough, this happens with State and Federal budgets everyday. But what is clear, this failure to find compromise may cost Salem 700k-1million in lost revenue from contracts and reimbursements from insurance.
Now what? Is Salem better off? Maybe a step approach could have saved a long relationship, maybe not? But we will now know the negative impacts to Salem budget very soon, strap in.
And now we are at 1million. LORD, the drama grows.
It’s pretty clear none of these people have ever run a business or been in a business relationship
When I refer to the tax rate, I am referring to the mill rate. The village has reduced the villages mill rate several times in recent past year and as recently as 2023. Your taxes are rising because there are other taxing bodies such as the county, schools and library. Your tax increase are NOT due to the village. I’m happy to meet with you to show you the figures and the facts. As the developments occur, again, the village can NOT legally stop the developments, additional tax revenue is generated allowing the village to continue to reduce the mill rate for all property owners.
Regarding the vosl fire/ems agreement. Negotiations occurred over a 12 month period between the two villages. A letter from the VOSL President and board to me and the Paddock Lake Board was very specific and per the article published provided an ultimatum, doubling the cost to paddock lake which would result in a referendum to raise taxes from paddock lake residents to cover the doubled cost. Surely you as a resident of paddock lake concerned about rising taxes wouldn’t be in favor of that..right?
Finally, I would be happy to meet to discuss your lack of confidence in village hall and in hopes to re instill your confidence in village hall.
So correct me if I’m wrong but you saved 100,000.00 by going to Bristol? But had you stayed with Salem you would have had to raise taxes over 100,000.00 ? That’s a math I don’t get but who am I anyway enjoy Bristol!!! Hopefully they don’t increase every year like every government does. But hey trust the government ask the Indians.
Please allow me to correct you. The article explains the cost differences. Salem cost would have been over $750k with a min 3% increase each year and Bristol cost to PL is $425k with a 3% increase each year. Also note that Salem has a history and practice of repeatedly trying to renegotiate terms of a contract so the actual costs to PL would be uncertain.
As a Bristol resident, I’m
NOT happy with this new contract with Paddock Lake to provide them fire and EMS services. It sure seems like they are not paying their share for these services and Bristol residents will suffer slower response times and higher tax bills. Thanks a lot, Mike F and Village Board!!!
See you at the next meeting!!!!!!!! I bet the board knows no details of contract and Mike Farrell will dodge questions while pushing them to Kerman to answer because he has no clue!!
Go to a board meeting and ask questions, challenge the board. They can’t read your minds from your lazy boy.
A board meeting is a board meeting, not a listening session.
Technical, audience doesn’t have any rights to question or speak.
It is a BOARD meeting that we get to watch.
Saying to attend to make change shows ignorance.
That’s why you have public comments.
Email you public officials, they are influenced by interaction with the community.
A board meeting is not required to have public comments. If your president allows them, it is a graciousness they offer you, not a requirement.
A board that doesn’t allow descent from the taxpayers is a corrupt board that should be removed asap. Citizen comments are the corner stone to our democracy, no matter how stupid they may be at times.
There wouldn’t be any boards if we removed all the corrupt ones
Years ago the Fire Departments in Salem Township were on a mil rate, was a line item on our tax bill. Rescue always had their own deal until the consolidation. It took a few negotiation cycles to get Paddock Lake on the same but in time Salem Volunteer Fire Department was able to get them to agree. Went on like that for awhile until the Township took over the Fire Departments. Seemed back in the day the VOPL and the fire department were always in negotiations though. Guess the Village finally was able to get a different department. Sad though, seemed the Village and Salem Fire Department were always able to make a good deal, even after the consolidation.
It’s sad this relationship couldn’t be made for the better. Many had high hopes with the new board, I guess some things never change. The old board members resentment of PL infected the New members. I guess we will see who was right very soon, budget time right around the corner. Seems like Salem negotiated a deal that couldn’t be accepted. I think this will be bad for both communities.
Did anyone at the Paddock Lake village hall check with the homeowner insurance company’s ?
Insurance rates are calculated on distance to a 24/7 fire house. While Salem is not quite there yet, we’re close. Rates around Salem are expected to come down some once that downtown Salem fire house number 2 is fully operational.
And were any of the retirement homes consulted on this change? Any of those families informed that instead of an ambulance a mile south of Walgreens their loved ones are going to have to wait for one that’s coming from behind the 45 Diner.
And what about Westosha Central ?
Their Rt 83 driveway is merely hundreds of feet from Salems now 24/7 ambulances.
Come January it’s miles away. In the winter no less.
Seriously folks. Were any of these businesses, old people homes and high school told about this ?
If so what did they say ? Did they give their blessings ? Inquiring minds want to know
The response times on average are equal and in the evening faster from Bristol.
a ambulance from Bristol is going to get to downtown PL to any of the 4 retirement homes faster or even in the same time as Salems station number 2 ??
To the high school ?
You didn’t address if any of these entities were ask, told or consulted about this change ?
Keep answering.
Station 2 is not manner 24/7. So yes, bristol in the evening will get to paddock lake faster in the evenings and yes during the day the average a response times are equal.
No they were not consulted because service and response times are equal.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
The only reason they started staffing station was because they heard you guys were thinking about dumping the contract with them. That’s the only reason. They still don’t have the staff the even the calls in their own town. Good move on giving bristol the contract
They never feel the need to consult the residents. They are our bettors. We are not smart enough so they decide for us.
The discussions regarding fire and EMS services were discussed at public board meetings. Did you attend any of them? If you did, you would have been informed of the taxes and details.
AA, You are a fool.
It’s clearly obvious that I’m not the fool. Please feel free to ask anymore questions that I can clarify for you with additional facts.
Averages are faulty measures. If one is early and one is late you get perfect on time average. What is median response time?
I wasn’t referring to individual response times. I was referring the overall average response times in relation to geographic area.
Alex, alex, alex – you flat out know this is a bold faced lie. For the last year, Station 2 has been staffed 24/7 and has resulted in lives being saved due to 3 – 5 minute response times. I know because I have been a firefighter at Dalem for the last 3 years, working many 24+ hour shifts myself at station 2, so please stop with your bullshit lies. Bristol cannot get there as fast and lives will be lost. Also… you NEVER tried to negotiate, so you can say all you want about being fiscally responsible and I am not saying that what salem proposed was appropriate either, but rather than try to come to a mutually acceptable number, you chose to save money and take a gamble on the lives of your residents adding up to 8 minutes to the reponse time. Alex – do you know how long it takes for a lack of oxygen to affect the brain? Would you rather be without oxygen for 3 minutes or 11 minutes? Want more facts Alex – or anyone for that matter? Watch this YouTube video starting at 46 minutes until 1 hour. It’s 14 minutes of facts showing how the paddock lake board is playing with lives, without even trying to come to a mutual agreement. https://www.youtube.com/live/Y3O2GYPfNiM?si=AibZuWAEN3ZMwWHf
Were you involved in the 12 months of negotiations between the 2 villages? No you weren’t. So you stop lying and spewing your misinformation.
If Station 2 is fully staffed, why didn’t Salem inform PL of this? didnt Salem believe this was important information to provide to PL? Wouldn’t Salem want to informed PL of the positive improved service ? I suspect they didn’t because station 2 isn’t fully staffed 24/7 and has limited staffing 24/7 and can’t even provide a full response without station 1.
Yes, I’m aware about response times and the affects. That’s why Bristol provides paddock lake quicker response times in the evenings 100% of the time! During the day..some areas Salem can respond to faster and some areas bristol responds to faster..it’s about a 50% split.
Stop spewing misinformation.
Just watch the video please.
I did.
Don’t go believing the 24/7 statement. It is very sugarcoated. You are not told the whole story
Thank you for pointing out, several times in your comment, that the village is fiscally responsible with taxpayer money. The village has lowered taxpayer mill rate, while also saving taxpayer money to fund the purchase of the fire truck and other capital improvements projects and purchases. In turn, the vopl was able to lend the truck to VOSL with interest to earn money on the loan. We are able to do so, because the village is fiscally responsible with taxpayer money.
Regarding funding paddock lakes own fire station and personnel, just one fire truck costs $1M, that doesn’t include the cost of ambulance vehicles, personnel vehicles, equipment and vehicle maintenance , the cost of the building and maintenance, personnel salaries and benefits, equipment costs, personnel gear, etc – all that well exceeding the cost for paddock lake to partner with Bristol and in the past Salem. Significantly raising the cost to paddock lake taxpayer. Would having a paddock lake fire station be fiscally responsible?
Regarding the budget, the village has limited revenue and as you pointed out, spends it wisely and were necessary. Unlike most other communities, paddock lake plans for the fiscal future so that paddock lake doesn’t raise taxes and manages the budget like a business.
The new development – as new developments begin contributing to the tax base paddock lake tax revenue will increase and the village can continue to lower the mill rate for residents.
Paddock Lake’s positive fiscal position is thanks to the past and current board and Village staff for the exceptional work they do to serve the paddock lake residents and community.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. I’m also available to meet in person to discuss further
Why spend millions on a fire department when you can get service for just $425.000 from Bristol ??
You are right Alex !!!!
Completely fiscally responsible !!!!
But that’s just the point !!
Do you think that Bristol’s $425.K or Salems $787.K is actually what it cost them ?? Who is being more fiscally responsible to their own residents ?
Salem or Bristol ?
The increase from Salem could be in consideration of the three New retirement homes you built in the last 5 years. Lot of ambulance calls expected there.
PL barely has water for its residents.
Doesn’t have expandable sewer.
And as now has come to the forefront, no reasonable fire and ambulance coverage for the ever expanding village.
Again, how do these old people’s homes like this idea ?
5 and a half minutes (5:27) to get to 50/83/75 the Walgreens corner from Bristol yet less than 2 minutes (1:38) from Salem station number 2
Detractors are saying Salem doesn’t have Paramedics. Maybe they don’t, yet. But they will.
Could change tomorrow.
Two ambulance calls at the same time. Where do you think the second one is coming from ?
Still waiting for an answer on how PL was able to buy a $880.000 fire truck with cash ?
That’s what you said !
Thank you for acknowledging paddock lakes fiscal responsibility.
I would like to correct some incorrect statements. Paddock Lake does have more than sufficient water and sewer for paddock lake residents and has the ability to expand the paddock lake water and sewer system.
Bristol is more than capable of providing fire and EMS to paddock lake. Additionally, Salem would provide back up service if needed as part of an intergovernmental agreement as Bristol does not with salem currently providing fire and EMS services.
Paddock Lake purchased the $880,000 fire truck from budgeted money saved over the years thanks to the previous boards and staffs fiscal responsibility.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
I guess I’m naive but why does a village with no fire department spend $800k on a fire truck?
On the other topic that keeps popping up, Paddock Lake does seem to be becoming overbuilt and no coherent plan. Maybe some reasonable setback rules for housing and restrictions on building size. Everyone would benefit by increasing property values.
Paddock Lake purchased the fire truck for Salem and loaned to Salem with interest. Salem needed a fire truck.
There is a land use plan established that does zone areas for specific development and has set back requirements. I would be happy to review the land use plan with you which was recently presented at the April board meeting.
Interesting because I have a house being built next to mine and the driveway literally touches my property line. You may have setback regs but they are terrible and destructive to property values.
In paddock lake?
Yes
Please email me the address so I can look into it. Existing setback requirements are 3 feet and nre construction setbacks are now 5 feet
May I have an email address for you? Are you seriously saying 3 and 5 feet setbacks are reasonable? If you think so there is no use discussing with you.
[email protected]. I’ll double check the setback requirements on Monday.
Thank you
Hi! The setback requirements for side yards are 10 feet for property 70 feet or wider and for properties less than 79 feet, the side yard requirement is 12% of the lots width.
Paddock Lake purchased the fire truck for Salem and loaned to Salem with interest. Salem needed a fire truck.
There is a land use plan established that does zone areas for specific development and has set back requirements. I would be happy to review the land use plan with you which was recently presented at the April board meeting.
A friend of mine directed me to this site and topic. My first impression is that this seems to be a very unprofessional negotiation. Salem apparently wants to nearly double their charges to Paddock Lake. That’s unreasonable. There seems to be a dispute on the usage statistics. That is easy to resolve as facts don’t lie. Seems like reasonable people would be able to agree on a measurement. If, in fact, Paddock Lake is using more services, they should pay more but not double in one year. The fact that Salem wants that compensation means they have been negligent in measuring in the past. They need to take a reasonable approach to begin to recover their fees. They cannot expect to recover all at once if they were using faulty measurements in the past to reach pricing.
This seems to be a very immature discussion to me. Reasonable people can always come to reasonable conclusions. I can almost sense personal animosity in the discussions. These villages/towns need to work together for the residents. This isn’t about competing village boards. Very sad, yet unfortunately representative of governing bodies everywhere.
Assumption is not accurate. The method of charging was changed to compute. Probably a wrong, very Illinois approach.
That Timmy P didn’t approach Cassie was erroneous on his part and his unequal, inaccurate data collecting was typical. He assumed how Salem was calculating, assumed he knew Salem’s staffing plan and totally ignored the ISO affect on those 2 miles from #2. We all know what ASS U ME means. Fkd the new neighborhood by 800$ bucks a year for insurance. Oh well, Alex will have his name attached to this forever!
You did see that the negotiations went on for a year + ? Tim P and Alex A met with the Salem Lakes Board on numerous occasions and SL would not budge or compromise whatsoever – similar to how they’re handling the new development that both SL and Paddock Lake would benefit from in terms of tax revenues. Maybe stop making assumptions about people, this situation, the negotiations etc unless you were a part of it.
What you wrote is woefully incorrect and inaccurate. if you read several of my other comments, the response times on average are equal and faster in the evening from Bristol. Station 2 is not manner 24/7 in Salem. Given the date and the facts, not sure why this would negatively affect your insurance. I called my insurance agent and it’s not negatively affecting my insurance rates.
Ask your insurance guy about rates and ISO.
Very well said and spot on. Salem negotiated to recover from the past mistakes, they don’t have people over there that negotiated on common sense. When things get emotional, it leads to poor decisions, seems clear in this case.
Here’s the facts without all hyperbolic talk. PL signed a great deal for their tax payers, maybe times will be increased slightly but with mutual aid it won’t make much difference. Salem just lost a sh*t ton of revenue from a contract and insurance reimbursement. This was a great deal for PL and a terrible step backwards for Salem IMO. I think this new board has let this New Administrator lead in a direction that may damage the Village for many years to come. Now Salem will need to scramble to strike a deal with other community’s much further away to make ends meet. Only time will tell this tale. Not thinking it will have a story book ending.
If Salem fire and rescue is not serving PL anymore then shouldn’t their cost go down ?
Maybe not dollar for dollar but not driving an ambulance multiple times a week to cart 3 buildings of old people to the hospital is a savings right ?
When they cart the old, insurance reimbursement can help balance the bottom line, so yes dollars may be lost.
Bristol needs the money!!!!! Last I heard we are still in deep in a lawsuit bought by a board that lets the administration run the town like he owns it.Who’s paying for this? Our tax loot!!! Industrial buildings that went up with no future relief in tax income. Strawberry creek will be Kenosha soon, that tax money will be gone, still need water tower,paying nearby town for waste water. Who’s running this shit show???
Strawberry Creek is already Kenosha FYI. No money from that neighborhood comes to Bristol (unless you count the school).
But yes, this appears to be a very shitty deal for the residents of Bristol and a great one for Paddock Lake
… it’s a great deal for PL.
Let’s see it in action next year.
The only problem there is that neither PL or Bristol will be forthcoming in the deficiencies as they show themselves.
Hard to tell if a grandma or grandpa could have been saved by a sooner 4 minutes ambulance response time. People get old. Old people die.
…… than a hundred unfettered comments here.
Alex.
You keep saying that anyone can call you, come to village hall or just come to regular meetings to get more information.
You talk about fiscal responsibility. Things paid upfront to not have debt and interest payments.
Would you be willing to document all negotiations with Salem with dates and times and the people at those meetings including all relevant numbers thrown about on how after 60 plus years you are moving EMS and Fire Services to the next town over ?
Can you show documents on the $800,000 fire truck that PL purchased and why that decision came to be made?
I know that fire truck was decided years before you came onboard but Tim Popanda was there.
Same in Salem. The truck negotiations were before Rita and Cassandra came onboard.
Interesting thing about going to meetings. I was at more than one of those Salem meetings where it was said that this $880 thousand dollar fire truck was not the right fit for what Salem needed in their arsenal. Heck someone correct me if I’m wrong here but Salem was trying to sell the truck on the open market before they even put it into service !
Even at that why would Salem think they could sell a truck that Paddock Lake owned ?
Going back further, why and who designed this truck for purchase all those years ago ?
It wasn’t you. Maybe some old timers on your board know.
Bill Hopkins and Denny Faber were around at Salem during this time. Mike Murdock too ! Was Jim Lejcar involved ? Chief Slover ?
And let’s get Salem current fire chief to put together the same documentation with Rita and Cassandra on how those new contract numbers were arrived at. Sure we all know what they were trying to do but as some people here said, were these good faith negotiations or bad faith negotiations ?
Who really owns that truck ?
And why does a village entity decide to outright buy a piece of equipment when they have only been buying services for all these decades prior ?
Everything about how this relationship went south needs to see the light of day. And not just to one resident here or there.
Alex and Tim. Rita and Cassandra. Bill and Dennis. Let’s pull the paperwork from the last 5 years or more. Maybe even a year or two from before the fire truck was thought about. Whose idea was it to move money around like this ? $880 K. And why ?
We’re not talking chump change here.
How many years was PL saving for this purchase ?
How did you acquire almost a million dollars in savings to then just pull the trigger ?
Even going back two years to that May 2023 meeting when you approved the $360 K.
I don’t remember seeing any agenda item approving the other $500K. since.
Both villages owe it to their taxpayers transparency on how this happened and why.
I’m sure Kevin would be more than happy to publish both papers. One from Paddock Lake and one from Salem. I’m sure Darren would publish it too on Westofthei.
Or at least publish it on your own village websites.
Heck we’re talking real money here. Reportedly over a million each year in lost revenue for Salem. And that much and more for PL once you add the $880 K fire truck to the new contract with Bristol.
This is the biggest story since the 2006 boundary agreement between these two villages.
New people on both sides who weren’t around for either.
The taxpayers deserve answers !!
Very good comment. I’m in the dark here. I haven’t lived in PL that long but AA’s explanations don’t give me any confidence. The comments from Popanda are especially troubling that he felt it was an ultimatum and didn’t seem they wanted to negotiate? This isn’t buying a $100 lawn mower. There is a responsibility to negotiate regardless of what people feel .
I still don’t understand why a village with no fire department buys a fire truck with supposed excess funds? This makes no sense particularly when people are saying Salem is trying to sell this truck? I thought it belonged to PL.
This whole story smells funny
The negotiations occurred over a 12 month period. Please review my previous comments to address your questions. Tim and I are available to meet with you to address your questions. Please let me know when you’re available
Btw..what about my explanations don’t give you confidence?
Popanda’s comments in the above article don’t line up. You say you negotiated for 12 months. Popanda says he got a letter that he felt was an ultimatum and he didn’t feel they wanted to negotiate. Little confidence we are getting the entire picture.
If you have been negotiating for 12 months why does one party say he didn’t feel they wanted to negotiate?
Hmmmmmm – silence? Starting to see cracks in your story Alex. Again – no matter what anyone says, Station 2 has been a 24 hour station for a year, and, when there is only one Paramedic on duty due to staffing levels, they are Stationed at 2 and we have a second paramedic that will respond from their home if the one on duty is busy. That’s a fact jack. The costs of service and the rescue squad issues were not handled well by either party in my opinion, but, I don’t have all the facts on these. However, don’t let anyone fool you on the response times, these will be worse. So when all those houses are built south of Chevrolet, even though we are only 1/2 mile away, we will NOT be toned out by dispatch so we won’t even know there is an issue,and even if we did, we cannot respond. When the powers that be talk about inter-agency agreements, we will only be toned out if Bristol “declines” the call because they are too busy. The cannot do this because it is going to take them 10 minutes to get there if they are not on another call, even if the patient is choking or in cardiac arrest. Sorry to be so blunt, just the facts.
I just responded and there are no so called cracks. The facts fully support PL position.
That’s a great question to ask Salem. All the documents and correspondence is public information. You’re welcome to foia request the documentation if you don’t believe me. You can request the letter from Rita and the Salem board to me and the PL board in which Salem provided no option for further negotiations and a cost not affordable to PL. You can request the correspondence of negotiations that occurred over a 12 month period between the two villages. It’s fine if you don’t believe me, request the documentation.
Tim and I would be happy to meet with you to explain, share and prove my comments. The agreement with Salem and PL was for PL to purchase the truck and Salem to equip it. You’re correct, PL agreed to either sell the PL owner truck or allow Salem to sell it. Salem reason to sell the truck that was provided to PL is because the previous fire chief equipped a truck that isn’t suited for Salem. That was determined by the new chief (yes PL has the correspondence).
The total expense PL paid with reserved, saved for the truck is $880k. Yes PL has the documentation.
PL 100% owns the truck. Yes PL has documentation
Salem needed a truck and as part of the fire/EMS agreement PL purchased it for Salem with a credit off the annual service fee was deducted.
Feel free to reach out to Tim Popanda to schedule a meeting or feel free to reach out to me. We would be more than happy to meet with you and anyone explain the history. Please let me know when you’re available
Come see me.
Yeah no. Just one person ?
Why not show everyone ?
You produce the documents. Show us what accounts you took the $880 out of. How long this money has been sitting there.
And how much you still have stashed away today. And what that money is waiting for.
It’s about knowing your customer.
Salem wanted $786. K
Bristol got $425. K
The difference is $361 K
Where else was Paddock Lake going to go ?
Bristol left a Big Chunk of Money on the Table.
Or Salem was greedy?
Right. There’s no way $425k proportionally covers Paddock Lake. I want to know the full budget of Bristol Fire and Rescue, including personnel and infrastructure costs. How did they come up with 425k? I heard it was to
hire additional personnel to cover PL. But that doesn’t cover the costs of the fire station, vehicles etc.
WTF Bristol Board????
What everyone is missing is the loss of the revenue from. The services being billed to the insurance companies. I believe the total loss to be 750 k +
When Paddock Lake suddenly opened up to Scooters, Dunkin, more retirement communities, etc., did they forget that those companies have a percentage expected to be paid towards law enforcement, EMS and maintenance? Did they not get that in the contracts? They have grown enough to realize their EMS costs are going to be higher now too.
Paddock Lakes population and business
We didnt double, so why should paddock lake taxpayers have to pay double?
What ? no they don’t – its called taxes.. and cost recovery fees (ambulance billing and typically car accident clean-ups which insurance “usually” pays for. business’ don’t pay a percentage to cover public safety. statistically, EMS calls still go to 1-2 family residences. The data always tells the truth. Some municipalities (seen in IL.) have an ordinance called a Bed tax. for each bed in a retirement home there is an annual fee per “Bed”. not very common, but they do exist.
Watch, Salem will do something irresponsible to try to save face. This will turn into a fresh war on the two communities, so stupid.
I guess you’re referring to the bad blood these two communities have had for decades. I agree, it appears this will lead to them not working together on anything. Very common theme with neighboring villages. PL and Salem think they are in competition with each other, bad blood will equal cost to taxpayers.
They both should be working for the betterment of the residents. This sounds like teenage girls.
Well sounds like google maps can’t even win against paddock lake as I am so impressed how this guy acts like he knows everything and has no wrong in him not one bit. But again who am I anyway sounds like a video I watched of a lady and a DNR officer as she shoves the blame on her workers for doing what she told them to do and claiming she knew nothing that way going on. Wait are you guys related ? I’m telling you guys the Indians were right don’t trust the government.
This is like a divorce, it hurts. It’s too bad these communities couldn’t work for the future. These wounds from the past, I guess are still too raw. Might take another generation to heal this wound. Who’s right or wrong don’t matter much now, ship has left the port. Time will tell this tale.