Mobile Intensive Care Trust Fund

Prior to the opening of Anderson Hospital, monies were bequeathed to the City for emergency medical care, to be used toward the construction of an Edwardsville regional hospital. With Anderson Hospital so close this never took place and a judge approved the monies to be put into a trust fund for advanced medical care. Over the years, this fund was used to begin and maintain the paramedic program in Edwardsville, and has bought specialized medical equipment for the ambulances. Only accrued interest can be used, the principal in the fund must remain intact.

The Mobile Intensive Care Trust Fund (view the committee page) has been used every 3 to 5 years for larger ticket items such as a cardiac defibrillator. The judicial order creating the fund also established the requirements for the trust fund members, who are appointed by the mayor.

Downstate Firefighters Pension Fund

Firefighter pensions are defined and regulated by state statute, but they are funded locally. A five-person board administers the pension fund. As defined by state statute, the board is comprised of two active firefighters elected by the active members; one retired firefighter elected by firefighter retirees; and two members appointed by the mayor. The two currently appointed members are city clerk Dennis McCracken and city treasurer Rich Hampton. The city treasurer is defined by law as the fund treasurer, whether or not he/she is a voting member of the board. Firefighters contribute 9.455% of their base salary toward pension, with the remainder paid by the employer to meet annual actuarial estimates.

Firefighters hired before 2011 can achieve the maximum 75% pension in 30 years; those hired after 2011 can also achieve a maximum of 75% but they need 35 years of service. A minimum pension of 50% can be taken at 20 years of service. Firefighters do not contribute to Social Security and are not eligible for Social Security for their time in the fire service.

Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) / Emergency Management Agency (EMA)

The fire chief serves as the ESDA / EMA coordinator for the City. This is the local extension of FEMA, and is the coordinating agency in the event of a major disaster. A separate ESDA / EMA tax maintains the outdoor warning sirens in the City.

Fort Russell Fire Protection District (FRFPD)

Residents outside of the City of Edwardsville in Fort Russell Township pay for fire / EMS services through property taxes to the FRFPD. The district then purchases fire services from the City of Edwardsville for the southern half of the township and Holiday Shores Fire Protection District for the northern half of the township. EFD responds along Edwardsville Road to Wanda Road, up Route 159 to include the Fox Creek subdivision, and along Route 157 to Old Carpenter Road. As a side note, those residing in Edwardsville Township but outside Edwardsville city limits are not in a fire protection district. These residents are charged a flat fee, established by city ordinance at $1600, when a fire response is needed.

International Association of Firefighters Local 1700

The local union represents all career firefighters below the rank of deputy chief. A 4-year collective bargaining agreement was reached with the local in April 2017.

International Association of Arson Investigators

The IAAI provides active support to fire, arson, and explosion investigation professionals through leadership in education, training, professional development, certification, networking, advocacy, and the provision of resources.

Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS)

This mutual aid system was born out of the Chicago area and has grown across the State of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Indiana. It has become one of the premier models for mutual aid across the country. By designating ahead of time which departments / equipment will be called (depending on the type of emergency), we are quickly able to get necessary resources to major events without stripping all of the resources out of neighboring communities.

Response to a “box alarm” is voluntary, but every department does its best to provide equipment and manpower when called. Every fire department in Madison County has signed on to MABAS, and it has proven to be the most cost-effective way to ensure adequate responses area-wide.