Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department news (more)

The firefighters' union is taking the city to court over its decision to cancel a tax fund that firefighters had tried to use for purchases such as Fitbits, coffee beans, and other personal items. This legal action could further strain the already tense relationship between the union and city officials.

Nine firefighters from Crystal Lake, including two who were arrested, are currently facing disciplinary action related to an off-duty incident at a local bar in March. Meanwhile, the Crystal Lake Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board and the city’s firefighter labor union filed a lawsuit on August 2 against the city and several officials, claiming they violated state laws by eliminating the foreign fire insurance tax imposed on out-of-state insurance companies. The tax generates over $60,000 annually.

The lawsuit alleged that the city council violated state laws by dissolving the tax board, withholding collected fees, and returning the money to the insurance companies. However, the city council never actually took those actions. Instead, they approved a modified version of the ordinance, which only set the tax rate to zero and agreed to use the remaining $150,000 in the fund until it ran out.

Mayor Aaron Shepley claimed the tax board provided the lawsuit draft to council members before an August 1 meeting “as an attempt to intimidate” them. He also said the board failed to update the lawsuit to reflect what the council actually did, which was only setting the tax rate to zero and using the remaining funds.

The dispute began when the tax board requested city council approval to use foreign fire tax funds for expenses that would benefit individual firefighters, such as Fitbits, gym memberships, duffel bags, and child care while they used the gym. Funds were also sought to purchase coffee beans, even though the city already provides coffee for its departments.

According to city code, the foreign fire tax is intended to support the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, including equipment, training, and certification fees. Fire Rescue Chief Paul DeRaedt, who serves as a trustee on the tax board, raised concerns about these requests, arguing that the funds should be used for the department as a whole, not for personal benefits.

“I found these expenditures—like Fitbits, gym memberships, and coffee beans—to be unacceptable,” DeRaedt said. “It feels like we're spending extra money on things we already provide.”

Over the years, the tax has been used for important departmental needs, such as exercise equipment, a new alert system for all three fire stations, re-equipping a reserve fire engine, and purchasing essential safety gear. In 2015, the board approved $44,000 annually to reimburse firefighters for gym memberships, and in 2016, they allocated $14,000 for 70 Fitbit devices and $2,600 for monthly coffee supplies.

In addition, the board recently approved around $57,000 for legal services, which would consume nearly all of the $61,000 collected annually. The details of the legal work remain unclear, but the board claims the funds are necessary to recover money unlawfully withheld by the city.

Since 2003, the Illinois Municipal League has turned over more than $780,000 in foreign fire tax fees to the city, according to the union's lawsuit. The tax will collect approximately $61,000 once more this fall before being suspended indefinitely unless an agreement is reached on how to use the funds.

Shepley criticized the current tax board for reversing the policies of its predecessors over the past 20 years. “As long as they continue to insist on their right to spend taxpayer money this way, it’s better for taxpayers not to bear these costs,” he said.

DeRaedt noted that changes in the leadership of the board have led to disagreements with city officials about what qualifies as a beneficial expense. The board recently voted to hire legal counsel to update its bylaws and pursue any funds that may have been wrongly withheld.

Shepley also expressed frustration with the union’s involvement in discussions unrelated to their collective bargaining agreement. The union’s contract with the city is set to expire on April 30, and negotiations are expected to begin in the spring.

Regarding future discussions on the foreign fire insurance tax, DeRaedt said he is unaware of any scheduled meetings between the board and city officials, but he remains hopeful for a resolution.

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