Excerpts from Herald-News.com: The Homer Township Fire Protection District union is pushing for a November ballot referendum that would give residents the power to elect their own fire trustees. This move aims to increase transparency and direct communication between the union, taxpayers, and those running for the board. David Curtis, president of the Homer Township Professional Firefighters, stated that the union members voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. "We don’t have a voice with the current trustees," he said, explaining that the union currently has to go through the fire chief to communicate with the board. The union hopes to be able to directly engage with trustees and even endorse candidates who align with their interests. The Board of Trustees oversees the fire chief, hires administrators, manages financial accountability, and handles equipment purchases. These trustees are appointed by the Homer Township Board of Trustees and meet once a month. To get the referendum on the November 8 ballot, supporters need around 1,200 signatures—equal to 10% of the district’s registered voters. Curtis noted that so far, there has been no major opposition. He also mentioned that neighboring fire agencies like New Lenox, Lemont, and Orland already have elected fire boards. However, Homer Township fire board Secretary Mark Lobes pointed out that there are 11 appointed fire boards in Will County. While he hasn’t taken a position on the referendum, he expressed a desire to communicate directly with the firefighters’ union. Lobes said the current appointee system reflects voter interest since township trustees—who are elected—choose the fire board members. He emphasized that the board is diverse, including residents from Lockport, Homer Glen, and Homer Township, ensuring geographic representation. He also argued that the appointed system avoids political motivations. Homer Township Supervisor Pam Meyers said the township has always welcomed public input on fire board appointments. “I don’t see anything wrong with the way it is,†she said, though she added that she wouldn’t necessarily oppose a change if the community supported it. If the referendum passes, residents would begin voting for fire trustees starting in 2017, marking a significant shift in how the fire protection district is governed. Precision Multi-cavity Mold Base Precision Multi-Cavity Mold Base,Double Color Mold,Silver Melting Molds,Injection Mold Tooling Kun Shan Qi Dian Precision Mold Co., LTD , https://www.qidian-mold.com