Stegall not up to challenge

For decades, the industry norm for public safety employees in cities the size of Elgin was one firefighter and police officer for each 1,000 people.

However, that was before the age of “specialization,” the paramedic program, ROPE officers, rapid growth and the like. It also was before we were told by our city’s mayor that growth was good.

Elgin City Manager Sean Stegall’s proposal that the fire department return to the one firefighter/paramedic per 1,000 people is ridiculous, if for no other reason than he should have proposed the same formula for our police department to avoid conflict among our public servants.

Unfortunately, in the past administration, Stegall wasn’t afforded the opportunity to run the day-to-day affairs of this city as he’s capable of. He and his assistant seem to be nice, affable and intelligent young men, but our city is in need of a seasoned professional who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up to our well-meaning elected officials.

Stegall needs to move on. Elgin is guilty of putting all our eggs in his rather fragile basket.

Herb Weyers

Elgin