Excerpts from a Daily Herald article:
Last year, Stone Park Fire Chief Michael Paige received a gift when the Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS) offered to donate an old ambulance fully stocked with medical supplies. While the squad gave three ambulances to agencies outside its home base in Antioch and Antioch Township, it refused to give one to the nearby Antioch Fire Department. This decision forced the local fire department to spend $69,000 in taxpayer funds to purchase and equip a used ambulance.
According to Antioch Fire Department Chief John Nixon, the ARS ambulances and equipment were originally funded in part by donations from Antioch-area residents and organizations. He argued that these resources should have been made available to support local emergency services. “Because we didn’t get any help from them, we had to use taxpayer money to bring in ambulances and equipment to protect our community,†Nixon said.
Antioch Rescue Squad leaders Brian DeKind and Todd Thommes did not respond to multiple interview requests. However, officials from the First Fire Protection District of Antioch believe the decision may be linked to the ARS’s long-standing dispute over being excluded from providing rescue services. The Antioch Fire Department now handles both fire and rescue operations in the area, and the ARS was no longer contracted for those duties.
The tension between the two groups dates back to 2012, when a sexual harassment lawsuit involving several ARS members led to a state investigation. The probe revealed serious issues, including patient mistreatment, medication abuse, and employees working after heavy drinking. Later that year, a former treasurer was charged with theft, and key leaders stepped down or retired.
DeKind and Thommes took over, but the relationship with the village of Antioch broke down in 2013 due to contract disagreements. As a result, the fire department had to hire an ambulance contractor before eventually purchasing its own vehicles. By 2014, the fire protection district ended its contract with the ARS, choosing instead to consolidate all rescue services under the fire department.
With no further need for their services, the ARS donated their ambulances and equipment to other agencies, including Stone Park, the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus, and the Newport Township Fire Protection District. These donations helped various communities without having to rely on taxpayer funds.
Derrick Burress, principal of the tech campus, welcomed the donation, calling it a valuable educational tool for EMS students. Meanwhile, Stone Park’s Chief Paige received an ambulance with over 100,000 miles, though it was still well-equipped with medical gear. The Newport Township fire chief also accepted a backup ambulance, offering it to Antioch if needed.
Nixon explained that the Antioch Fire Department now operates with four ambulances—three as primary units and one as a backup. To get up and running, they spent around $157,000, minus some donations and insurance funding. Without the ARS’s assistance, they had to spend additional taxpayer money to maintain their service level.
“They had the chance to help us, but they chose not to,†Nixon said. “And because of that, we had to use public funds to buy and stock a fourth ambulance.â€
Patch Bag,Patch Paper Bag,Patch Shipping Bag,Kraft Paper Patch Bag
Wenzhou Mingda Printing Industry Co., Ltd. , https://www.mingdaprinting.com