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East Dundee board backs co‑purchase of 24/7 outdoor AED station with fire district
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Summary
The village agreed in principle to partner with the Country Fire Protection District and nonprofit Andrews Assist to co‑purchase and install a heated, monitored outdoor AED safe station at the Depot; Andrews Assist will donate the AED, and the village’s share of the cabinet/installation is about $2,260.05 under a 50/50 split.
The East Dundee Village Board discussed and signaled support for a cooperative purchase of a permanently installed, heated outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) station at the Depot, a move officials said would expand public access to life‑saving equipment at events and on the riverfront.
A fire district representative spoke to the board about the proposal, describing it as a “co‑op purchase between the village and fire district” and saying the nonprofit Andrews Assist would donate the AED unit itself, removing a large portion of unit cost from the municipal share. The board was shown a model cabinet that is heated, battery‑backed, monitored by cellular data and equipped with a camera and audible alarm.
Rebecca Fokker, founder and president of Andrews Assist, described the nonprofit’s mission and cited survival figures to underscore the benefit of wider AED access: “Ninety percent of cardiac arrests outside the hospital do not survive,” she said, and added that immediate bystander CPR plus AED use can raise survival from about 10 percent to as high as 75 percent when performed promptly.
Officials described the projected costs and operations: the total cabinet/installation package is $4,520.10, to be split 50/50 with the fire district, leaving the village’s share at approximately $2,260.05. The package includes the heated enclosure with monitoring, signage and a four‑year cellular monitoring plan. The fire district offered to provide monthly maintenance checks and to replace pads and batteries; board members and staff discussed the possibility of an intergovernmental agreement to formalize maintenance responsibilities.
The monitoring service will alert up to 50 designated contacts by text when the cabinet is opened and will send a photographic snapshot when the unit is accessed. Officials said the monitoring plan currently includes a four‑year term and that renewal is expected to cost roughly $400 for the four‑year extension (village share about $200). A board member noted insurance should cover vandalism or theft, and presenters said the cabinet’s camera and downtown surveillance reduce that risk.
Trustees discussed siting (the south side of the Depot near the bathrooms was preferred) and aesthetics for the historic building; options such as a small brass dedication plaque or a minimal “sponsored by” decal were raised and left for later staff‑level decisions. Board members also recommended a ribbon‑cutting and community education to accompany installation.
The discussion left a clear procedural path: staff will prepare any needed agreements and follow up on final siting, donor recognition language and the monitoring/maintenance arrangement with the fire district and Andrews Assist. The board did not adopt a binding intergovernmental agreement during the meeting but expressed support for moving the project forward.
