Darien, Sharon and Walworth departments would share staff
The fire and Emergency Medical Services departments of Walworth, Darien and Sharon are proposing a shared staffing program via referendum and recently announced several informational meetings that will be held prior to the election.
This proposed program plans for a two person full-time paid Firefighter/EMT-Paramedic duty crew. This program augments the departments’ volunteers and will cover the village and townships of Walworth, Darien and Sharon.
If approved, the program will upgrade the departments’ service level from EMT-Basic Level to EMT-Paramedic Level and provide personnel ready to respond within seconds. The six municipalities that currently fund all three departments will share the costs of this program.
The boards of the villages of Sharon, Darien, Walworth and townships of Sharon and Walworth have voted to send this proposal to referendum in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
In an effort to inform voters, several open meetings – each containing the same information but in different municipalities and at different days and times – have been scheduled in the coming weeks.
According to members of the fire and EMS departments, the meetings will be held with all safety precautions in place.
Residents of the towns and villages involved in the shared staffing program referendum are asked to keep an eye on their mailbox for information. Voters are asked to attend a meeting so they can make an informed decision.
The meetings will be held at the locations and on the dates and times listed below:
- Sharon Fire Station – Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.
- Walworth Town Hall – Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m.
Walworth Village Hall – Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.
- Sharon Fire Station – Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m.
- Darien Fire Station – Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.
