Township services are valuable, needed

This letter is in response to the recent drumbeat of negative publicity about the role of township government in Illinois. Wheeling Township stands as an excellent example of fiscal conservation combined with a desire to avoid duplication of services with other governmental entities. During my time as an employee of Arlington Heights, I personally witnessed great cooperation between the township and the village.

The township provides transportation services to residents and the village provides assistance in maintaining township vehicles at low cost to the township. In addition, Wheeling Township has been in the forefront of providing needed social services on a direct and local level to citizens in both municipalities and unincorporated areas of the township.

I am confident that municipalities are genuinely concerned about their most economically fragile residents. However, I think it is unlikely, at this time, that those same communities are willing, or able, to take over the general assistance programs administered by the township. The big questions are whether services are needed and whether there is duplication of services. My opinion is that the services are needed at this time, and Wheeling Township government is the logical entity to provide that service in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Greg Ford

Arlington Heights