Fire chief inherited budget woes

Regarding the recent article on the Carol Stream Fire District budget, I was surprised to see a fire district trustee criticizing new Fire Chief Rick Kolomay on a $11,000 budget expense.

Chief Kolomay was appointed to his position less than four months ago, and despite inheriting the current budget problems, has implemented almost $500,000 worth of savings this fiscal year. His vehicle replacement plan alone saved the district over $300,000 this year and will save roughly another $180,000 next fiscal year.

Cuts by Chief Kolomay to overtime budgets will also save tens of thousands of dollars this year. Even a recent change to the phone service is saving $200 per month.

Despite these savings, and other current cuts implemented by Chief Kolomay, the education and skill level of the firefighters and paramedics has increased due to his commitment to training and safety. Carol Stream firefighters have been training closely with firefighters from Bloomingdale, Glenside and Wheaton, among others, to develop a cohesive standard of emergency response among the neighboring communities. This will create a better understanding of specific roles at emergency scenes, which in turn will make rescue operations more efficient and much safer for the firefighters and the community. Chief Kolomay's commitment to the citizens of Carol Stream and to the firefighters that protect them is apparent in every action he takes.

It is important to note that emergency calls don't slow down just because the economy is down. With over 4,600 emergency calls last year, it is my opinion that Chief Kolomay understands that the fire district cannot be run like a small business. He is working hard at correcting the budget problems he inherited, but is also thinking of the safety of all concerned at the same time.

Greg Schwarze

Firefighter, Carol Stream