The *Daily Herald* recently published an article detailing ongoing administrative adjustments related to automatic aid agreements between the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District and the Barrington Fire Department, as well as the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. The key development is that the Palatine Rural Fire District has decided to end its current automatic-aid agreement with both departments.
The Palatine Rural Fire Board of Trustees voted unanimously to terminate the agreement, which will officially end on December 31. This gives all involved parties time to negotiate new arrangements before the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District becomes an independent department in the new year.
Chief Hank Clemmensen of Palatine Rural explained that the decision was necessary to ensure fairness and balance in future mutual aid agreements. "We’ll need two new auto-aid agreements after January 1," he said. "Now we can sit down with both agencies and renegotiate terms that work for everyone."
While the vote to end the agreement may seem like a formality, it reflects growing concerns about the current arrangement. According to Clemmensen, Palatine Rural currently provides emergency services to areas within the Barrington Countryside district, such as western Inverness and parts of Dundee near Ela Road—despite being outside their jurisdiction. These areas are often served by Palatine Rural’s closest station, effectively subsidizing service without reciprocal support.
Clemmensen emphasized that while the current system has been in place for years, it's becoming increasingly unsustainable. "Our board doesn’t feel we’re getting the same return," he said. "It’s not fair to our residents to support another fire district for daily operations."
Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie confirmed that the village had already planned to revise its agreement with Palatine Rural to reflect the upcoming independence of the Countryside district. Both sides are now working toward a new understanding that better aligns with the changing landscape.
A spokesperson for Barrington Countryside said the district isn’t surprised by the move and is open to exploring alternative aid arrangements. With increased staffing since 2014, they believe they're better equipped to handle emergencies independently, though collaboration remains a possibility.
Clemmensen also noted that if no new agreement is reached, expanding Palatine Rural’s jurisdiction could be an option. However, that would require residents of the Countryside district to petition for a referendum to annex into Palatine Rural—a process that could take time.
For now, the focus remains on finding a balanced and sustainable solution that benefits all parties involved. As the transition approaches, the community will be watching closely to see how these changes unfold.
Thanks, Dan.
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