Hampshire trustee hopefuls differ on emergency communications

In an age of Amber alerts, text messages, social media posts and Twitter feeds, news and information can travel fast, especially in an emergency.

The four people seeking three, 4-year trustee seats on the Hampshire Village Board have differing views on the village's emergency communications ability and effectiveness.

Incumbents Janet Kraus, Orris Ruth and Rob Whaley each hope to be re-elected while newcomer Toby Koth is looking for his first chance to serve.

Koth said the village should look into buying an emergency communications system such as Nixle.

Numerous suburban police departments use the system, and Chicago police have been using it since 2009, according to nixle.com.

"It's a chance for the police department, the fire department and village hall to send out notices or warnings via text," Koth said.

Kraus said residents may call village hall, personally visit or email to get on the village's existing phone emergency notification system.

Plus, she said, the village doesn't have any money.

"(Nixle) would be a wonderful thing, but cost is an issue. That's the problem," said Kraus, a trustee since 2007.

Ruth, who has been on the board since 1983 except for a two-year window, said he is fine with the existing emergency communications in place.

"If people are interested and want to know what's going on, come to a village board meeting," he said.

Whaley, who was elected in 2011, said he doesn't know enough about Nixle to form an opinion, but he would be happy to investigate it in the future.

"We appreciate ideas and new ideas," he said. "I entertain ideas and I like people to bring forward ideas."