Troubled by ECC public safety, truck schools

The Burlington village board OK’d a conceptual plan for ECC’s vision of a regional public safety and sustainability facility. We the people voted to approve a $178 million referendum from which this facility will be funded. Before ground is broken, there will be a public hearing regarding this facility.

Some things for the public to know about and question: According to paperwork submitted by ECC, local regulation will not apply to training or training methods, which may include aviation activities, ballistic explosives, burning and smoke and noise, burning buildings, etc.

Again they will not abide by local regulations. They have planned on outdoor firearms range as well as nuclear, biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction simulation training. And will operate this facility 24 hours a day, seven days per week. They claim to take nature into consideration.

ECC’s truck driving school will be relocated here also. They have planned this to be on Plank Road, the No. 1 road from Elgin to Sycamore. Isn’t traffic deadly enough? Now we add people learning to drive semis into the mix?

Progress is inevitable. Let’s make sure they do it up right. How about a traffic study to see what impact this type of facility will have on such a populous route? How about housing the firing range? Do we really need to be subjected to air and noise pollution? Just because we are a small, rural community doesn’t mean we should be taken advantage of. Please make sure you attend any hearings and let your voice be heard.

Betty Reiser

Village trustee Burlington