Streamwood scrimps on public safety

I am writing to you about the mayor, village manager, and our board of trustees of the Village of Streamwood.

A few weeks ago Streamwood held “goals and objectives” meetings for the 2011 budget. During these “meetings” it was discussed with a third party what items would be addressed in the next year's budget.

The number one item was to raise taxes and fees, the last item on the list was reopening Fire Station 31 (Behind Jewel on Route 19.) When the third party consultant asked if this was all right, everyone agreed.

Public safety has not been a top priority for this village in years. I can prove this by our fire department only having two firefighters on the fire rigs for at least a decade.

Now with new NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) rules, our village has to have three firefighters on the fire rigs. Instead of increasing our manpower to meet the rules, we shut down a station instead. Instead of doing the right thing, we played musical chairs.

I have spent no less than eight months showing village hall the facts. But our village does not want to hear it. They would rather continue to play Russian roulette and hope nothing happens.

The lives of every single resident and the lives of visitors to our village are placed at a higher risk without the proper coverage from a third fire station.

For 2011's budget there is a tax increase, just like last year. But no change to our fire department. Last year we had 199 employees in the village, this upcoming year we only have 182. Guess what department is missing the most employees?

The Village says it's “early retirement” but when you do not replace the personnel, it's called layoffs.

Matthew Dobson

Streamwood