Many questions over closure of Station 31

I have an issue with the Village of Streamwood's website. According to the minutes of the Aug. 5, 2010 board meeting (streamwood.org/ReferenceDesk/Minutes/2010/080510.pdf) it says, "Matthew Dobson asked several specific questions regarding fire training and costs. He was asked to present his questions in writing to be addressed by the Village Manager."

This is not factual. I was never told to present anything to the village manager and received a letter from the village answering only one of my many questions. Public safety should not be taken so lightly by our elected officials.

The questions I have asked this village since April 16th are as follows:

1. How have response times changed Since April 1, 2010? I need specific data, not averages.

2. Why was the issue not put to the board of trustees for a vote? Why were the elected officials who are there to represent us residents notified after the fact? Memo information I have obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, says they were notified April 9.

3. Have the village president, board of trustees or village manager toured former Station 31 and seen exactly what our firefighters have to train on. If so, please elaborate.

4. Are you aware of what "mutual aid" agreements with other towns are meant to do? MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) was designed to help departments who were dealing with issues that overpower their own resources: i.e. fires, wrecks, water rescues, natural disasters - not a daily staffing coverage because a town does not want to properly fill its fire department.

What upsets me the most about this entire thing is that this village did NOT properly inform the residents of the changes to our public safety. The village treated this as if they were going to the store to get a gallon of milk.

Matthew Dobson

Streamwood