Niles businesses and owners of multi-unit residential buildings will soon be able to sign up for the new Village of Niles fire alarm monitoring program.
During its Feb. 24 meeting, the Niles Board of Trustees approved an agreement with Elmhurst-based Chicago Metropolitan Fire Prevention Company. Under this agreement, the company will provide fire alarm monitoring and maintenance for village facilities, and Niles businesses and building owners can join voluntarily.
According to estimates provided by the village, the business owners would be able to pay less than they would under any other options. The village would be able to provide enough alarm for 30 businesses during the first year of the program, but Niles officials hope that it would be able to provide more in the future. And while the project will initially cost the village money, officials expect to make a profit on the program by its second year.
In a memo submitted to the Village Board, Department of Community Development director Charles Ostman explained the background behind the agreement. In 2009, Niles, Morton Grove, Lincolnwood, Skokie and North Maine fire protection district signed an intergovernmental agreement that would allow the villages to offer wireless fire alarm monitoring service to businesses within their borders. Ostman explained that wireless fire alarm monitoring was “more efficient, reliable and cost saving” than older alternatives. Chicago Metropolitan got the contract to provide the alarms. But since the agreement was signed, only Morton Grove and Lincolnwood actually took advantage of it.
Last year, the village started looking into implementing the service. After being considered by the Niles Finance Committee, the matter was brought to the board on Feb. 24.
According to the agreement approved by the board, the village would pay no more than $51,600 to buy fire alarm monitoring equipment for all Niles government buildings and 30 businesses. The businesses that choose to take part in the program would need to pay $70 a month. This is the same rate as Morton Grove and Lincolnwood businesses that take part in the program.
Ostman’s memo indicates that the proposed budget for the next fiscal year currently calls for enough money to buy equipment for 50 more businesses. Because that budget will not be approved for a few more months, that figure is provisional.
In a memo sent to the Niles Finance Committee on Jan. 13, Department of Community Development laid out more details about the financial aspects of the program. It indicated that many businesses that have fire alarm monitoring contracts with other companies pay more than they would under the village’s program. The businesses cited as examples include Jerry’s Fruit & Garden Center (which pays $105 a month) and Oak Mill Mall (which pays $200 a month). Some businesses – such as Brunswick Zone and Kiddie Kingdom – pay $40 less than they would under the village program. The cost of initial installation of equipment cost $1,800, while under the Niles program, the installation would be free.
The memo explains that, the program would cost the village $47,677 during the first year, but next year, the revenues from the fees would be enough to earn $50,742 in profit. That figure assumes that 50 more businesses would sign up for the program. As more and more businesses enrolled in the service, the profits would increase. The department estimates that, by 2020, the program would have a total of 246 businesses, earning the village a total of $437,502.
Trustee George Alpogianis, who runs Morton Grove’s Kappy’s American Grill restaurant, said he had good experience with the program.
“I had first-hand experience dealing with them at the restaurant,” he said. “[Chicago Metropolitan] did a great job. They are very pro-business.”
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.