A Message from Fire Chief Terry Kreher, Long Lake Fire Protection District

GraniteCityGossip.com March 13, 2026

As Fire Chief of the Long Lake Fire Department, I take great pride, and great responsibility in being a good steward of your tax dollars. Our department has served this community since 1950, and for 76 years we have done everything possible to provide high‑quality fire protection with the limited resources available to us.

On Tuesday, March 17th, the Long Lake Fire Protection District is asking voters to consider two tax referendums. I want to take a moment to explain, in plain terms, what each referendum means and why your support matters.

Fire Protection Tax Levy Increase.

When the Long Lake Fire Protection District was created in 1956, the district began levying a tax to fund fire protection. In all the years since, voters have never been asked to increase that levy, until now.

As you know, the cost of living has risen dramatically. The fire service feels those increases just like every household and business does.

A few examples:
In 2017, we purchased a new fire engine for $647,000.
In 2023, we ordered a new tanker/pumper for $1.2 million—nearly double the cost of the previous engine.

The personal protective equipment our firefighters wear, gear that keeps them alive, has more than doubled in price.

Despite these rising costs, our members continue to provide the highest level of service possible. We are proud of the work we do, and we are committed to protecting every resident, every home, and every business in our district.

A “YES” vote on this referendum will allow us to maintain that level of service and keep our equipment, training, and safety standards where they need to be.

Establishing an Ambulance Tax
The second referendum asks voters to approve a new ambulance tax. I want to be very clear: this is a new tax, not an increase to an existing one.

Right now, the Long Lake Fire Protection District relies on a private ambulance provider. Under that agreement:

We cannot guarantee whether you will receive a BLS (Basic Life Support) or ALS (Advanced Life Support) unit.
We cannot guarantee an acceptable response time.
We cannot require the provider to meet specific performance standards.

This referendum would change that.
With an ambulance tax in place, the district would have the ability to contract directly with an ambulance service and require:

Defined response times
Required staffing levels
Required training and certification
Consistent ALS availability

This is not about convenience. It is about life‑saving minutes.

I want to share something personal. On June 21, 2022, I received a call that my father was unresponsive and not breathing. I was in downtown Collinsville and rushed to his home. When I arrived, two Pontoon Beach Police officers were already there, but no ambulance.
I waited 12 more minutes before an ambulance arrived.

From the time the 911 call was made to the time an ambulance reached the scene, 22 minutes had passed.

In my father’s case, the delay did not change the outcome. He had already been down for some time. But for someone else in our district—for your spouse, your child, your parent—those minutes could be the difference between life and death.

We can do better.
This referendum gives us the tools to demand better.

A Final Word.
I understand the burden taxpayers already feel. I live here too. I know what it means to stretch a dollar and question every increase.

But I also know what it means to stand in someone’s living room on the worst day of their life. I know what it means to fight a fire with aging equipment. I know what it means to wait for an ambulance that may or may not arrive in time.

These two referendums are not about politics.
They are about public safety.
They are about your family.
They are about saving lives.

On March 17th, I respectfully ask you to vote YES on both referendums.

Fire Chief Terry Kreher
Long Lake Fire Protection District