Kendall County approves $46,675 pilot to staff Bergheim volunteer station with part‑time firefighters amid debate over county hiring model

Kendall County commissioners on Tuesday approved a four‑month pilot contract with the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department to fund part‑time, paid firefighters at the Bergheim station, agreeing to provide $46,675 for June through September operations.

Supporters said the pilot is a pragmatic, short‑term step to improve emergency response while the county and volunteer departments work on a long‑term staffing plan. Commissioner Wiesgen, who moved the contract, described it as a way to “buy consistent coverage” at the station and to quickly put trained personnel where they are needed.

The vote followed a months‑long, contentious discussion about whether the county should hire firefighters directly or fund volunteer organizations to hire and manage paid staff. Critics, including Commissioner Chapman and County Judge Shane Slaughter, said the county should prioritize creating permanent, county‑employed staffing models in the October budget cycle rather than funding…