A referendum to elect Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection district trustees overwhelmingly was approved by voters during Tuesday's primary election. Trustees are currently appointed by the Kendall County Board.
Alexander Kennedy is with the Yorkville-based Stamp Act Political Action Committee which petitioned to get the question in front of voters. Kennedy says it's about local control of government.
The firing of a Bristol-Kendall firefighter who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine or be tested for COVID-19 weekly led to the push to get the proposal on the ballot.
Bristol-Kendall Fire Chief Jim Bateman says the district was following Governor J.B. Pritzker's executive orders in letting the firefighter go and could have faced consequences if it didn't. Bateman notes that the department is still testing and screening firefighters for COVID-19.
The new board of trustees will be elected in the 2023 Consolidated Election.
Chief Bateman says that he hopes that any trustees who are elected will strive to take of the districts firefighters and continue to improve the department.