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Local Voices

Save Bolingbrook's 911 Center - UPDATE - The Time To Act Is Now!!

I think this issue is crucial to myself and my family as well as each of yours who live or work in Bolingbrook.  I have spent quite a bit of time researching this issue and speaking to people within the village of Bolingbrook, at Wescom (the proposed consolidated center in Plainfield) as well as others familiar with the issues. 

It appears that the drive to get rid of our dispatch center and to outsource those services to an agency out of town is being pushed by Mayor Claar as well as Tom Ross, a Deputy Chief for the Police Department (a Deputy Chief position who's need and cost to the village is questionable in itself).  It also appears that all of the dedicated people working in our 911 center who have been protecting our lives and property have been being lied to for over 6 months, and probably even longer.  It seems as if this proposed consolidation has been in the works with Wescom for quite some time, and that Tom Ross and Roger Claar have had their minds made up and the decision made, even though the final documents have not been officially signed.  From what I hear, many of the 911 dispatchers, as well as the 911 supervisors, questioned whether consolidation would happen anytime in the near future, and for the past several months were told "no".  They based family decisions on this information as whether to have children, purchase vehicles or homes, and some have even sold and bought new homes just to be within the geographic requirements to retain their positions within the 911 center, only to find out they have been lied to and will be out of jobs within a few months.

I believe Wescom submitted their proposal of services and costs to the village a few weeks ago and the village tentatively approved that proposal.  Wescom's board is now scheduled to meet and vote on whether or not to take Bolingbrook into the group of approximately 20 agencies they provide services to this Thursday, the 24th.  After that, it is probably only a formality for the elimination of the 911 center to be announced at the village's next meeting and the final documents signed off on.  It has been said that Mayor Claar has already been all but bragging to politicians and others at recent social events that he IS outsourcing our 911 services. 

The mayor has done many good things for the village over the years, but he has also made some questionable decisions, and this one can't be more wrong.  No matter how many dollars this outsourcing may save (and the word is MAY), at what cost will it be?  No amount of money savings is worth our safety.  I would rather pay a few more dollars in taxes each year, or have things like the village's vehicle stickers reinstated to help financially, than to feel unsafe in my own town.  The rumor going around is also that this insane change is an attempt to help recoup and recover funds that were misappropriated by the finance department or mayor leaving pension funds lacking, as well as grant money that was "forgotten about" and not utilized for neighborhood improvements.  I have not had the time to obtain any documentation regarding these alleged improprieties, but perhaps a formal investigation or Freedom if Information Act request for information is in order.  No matter what the reason, the decision to close our 911 center is just an unthinkable example of malfeasance.

Mr. Mayor, do you really want this to be your legacy?  Mr. Ross, is trying to "buy" your way into the next Police Chief position worth pushing this insanity through?  I have spoken to many MANY residents and business owners, and none of them want this to happen.  Please rethink your positions on this and stop it before the everything is finalized in writing and done.  Don't undo all of the good you have done in this village over the years and ruin what good reputation you have with this knee-jerk decision.  There are better ways to cut costs; better ways to address any possible problem issues, than jeopardizing the safety of the people of Bolingbrook.  Cut back on landscaping, reinstate vehicle stickers, scale back the work on ponds and lakes, expenditures on fireworks and Christmas decorations, get rid of the unnecessary and incompetent supervision that has been said to be the cause of many of the issues in the police department and village- ANYTHING but public safety!

Other villages and 911 centers have made this mistake in the past.  I heard of many agencies that have switched to other "businesses" providing dispatching services, who were extremely unhappy with those decisions due to poor service provided and increased times to dispatch help to citizens in need.  I have been told that nearby Woodridge, who recently transferred services to another consolidated center in the area, regret their decision, and their warnings to Deputy Chief Ross regarding Bolingbrook doing the same have so far been ignored.

Residents and business owners-CALL, EMAIL & WRITE the mayor and village officials at the contact information found in this original blog.  ATTEND the village board meetings (information can be found on the Bolingbrook.com website) and voice your opposition to eliminating YOUR 911 center.  This consolidation may be acceptable for very small towns without resources to provide their own services, but not for a village the size of Bolingbrook which has an excellent 911 service already.  And also not with an outside center that is already cutting personnel, services and resources thin to provide services to too many  agencies to save a buck or two.  Sacrificing our safety and peace of mind is not worth it, and the savings usually disappear after the 1st year or two anyway, after contract costs are raised, similar to after the "introductory period" when you switch to a new cable service.  These centers are known for that.

Let's not sit back and watch our safety and the safety of our children be taken away.  We need to voice our opinion, stop this runaway train from flying of the track, and find a way to help the Mayor find a better solution to the village's financial issues!

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