Excerpts from Herald-News.com: The Homer Township Fire Protection District union is pushing forward with a campaign to place a referendum on the November ballot, aiming to let residents vote for their fire trustees. Homer Township Professional Firefighters President David Curtis shared that the union members unanimously supported the initiative. The goal, according to Curtis, is to allow firefighters and taxpayers to engage directly with candidates running for the board, enabling the union to endorse individuals they believe will best represent the department’s interests. “We don’t have a direct voice with the current trustees,†Curtis explained. “Right now, we have to go through the fire chief to communicate, which can be slow and inefficient.†The Board of Trustees oversees the fire chief, hires administrators, manages financial matters, and handles equipment procurement. These trustees meet once a month and are appointed by the Homer Township Board of Trustees, as Curtis noted. To get the referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot, supporters need approximately 1,200 signatures—equivalent to 10% of the district’s registered voters. So far, the union hasn’t faced much pushback, and many neighboring fire agencies, such as New Lenox, Lemont, and Orland, already use an elected system. However, Homer Township Fire Board Secretary Mark Lobes pointed out that there are also 11 appointed fire boards in Will County. While he hasn’t taken a position on the referendum, he expressed a desire to speak directly with the firefighters’ union. According to Lobes, the board learned about the effort several weeks ago from Chief Bob Tutko, but no formal discussions have occurred yet. “I’m hoping to hear from the union soon,†he said. Lobes emphasized that the current appointment system reflects voter interest, since the township trustees who select the fire board are elected. He also mentioned that the fire board includes members from different backgrounds and communities, such as Lockport, Homer Glen, and Homer Township, ensuring geographic representation. He added that the board isn’t politically driven because it's appointed rather than elected. Homer Township Supervisor Pam Meyers stated that the township has always been open to public input regarding fire board appointments. “I don’t see anything wrong with the current system,†she said, though she didn’t rule out the possibility of change. If the referendum passes, residents would begin voting for fire trustees starting in 2017. Customized Plastic Mold Base,Aluminum Die Cast Mold,Acrylic Mold Base,Metal Mold Casting Kun Shan Qi Dian Precision Mold Co., LTD , https://www.qidian-mold.com