Excerpts from DailyHerald.com: Fire officials in Pingree Grove are once again seeking voter approval to borrow $8.5 million for the construction of two new fire stations, citing the need to better serve a rapidly growing population. This is the second time the proposal has been put before voters, following a rejection in April 2017. If approved on March 20, the referendum would result in an estimated $90 annual property tax increase for a home valued at $300,000. This is $27 less than the projected increase from last year, according to Fire Chief Mitch Crocetti, who explained that the district’s growth since the previous vote has helped reduce the per-property cost. The Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District plans to repay the bonds over 20 years, using $2 million from its general fund—$100,000 annually—and the remaining $6.5 million through a property tax increase that will expire after two decades. Informational sessions are scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Cambridge Lakes Community Center, located at 1125 Wester Blvd., and Thursday at 7 p.m. at Station 2, 10N980 Rippburger Road, Plato Center. These meetings aim to educate residents about the proposed project and address any concerns. The district currently employs 54 firefighters who responded to 1,096 calls in 2017—an increase from 1,036 calls in 2016. The 50-square-mile area serves approximately 15,000 residents across Pingree Grove, the northern part of Campton Hills, and unincorporated regions. With new developments in the Cambridge Lakes subdivisions, the demand for emergency services is expected to rise further. Currently, the district operates three fire stations, but two of them—Station 2 on Rippburger Road and Station 4 on Plank Road—are outdated and would be closed if the new stations are built. Both are considered obsolete, with Station 2 being unstaffed and Station 4 relying on temporary trailers for firefighters. "They were never meant to be full-time stations," said Crocetti. "They are landlocked and not strategically located." The two new fire stations, which will include living quarters for firefighters, are planned for locations on Highland Avenue, just east of Coombs Road, and on Dittman Road, roughly one mile south of Plato Road. The district has already set aside $600,000 from its $3.3 million budget this year to purchase land and commission architectural designs for the new facilities. Food Grade Metal Can Processing,High Speed Filling Line,Tinplate Container Assembly Line,Aerosol Can Production Process Zhoushan Putuo BODA Machinery Co., Ltd. & Saga Trading (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. , https://www.boda-machinery.com