The Chicago Tribune recently published an article that follows up on a previous post about a controversial decision in Des Plaines to cancel the purchase of an ambulance that had already been approved. The twist in this story is that three city aldermen are now calling for a legal review of whether the cancellation was justified.
Patricia Haugeberg, Dick Sayad, and Jim Brookman have requested that the Illinois attorney general or an outside law firm investigate the validity of the council’s decision to rescind the ambulance purchase. Their request is set to be discussed at the next City Council meeting, according to official documents.
The original approval of the ambulance purchase came after a heated debate over the design of the exhaust system—specifically whether it should be installed underneath the vehicle (horizontal) or above it (vertical). The resolution passed with a narrow 5-3 vote during the March 3 City Council meeting. Just two weeks later, the decision was reversed when a 4-4 tie was broken by Mayor Matt Bogusz, who supported the rescission.
Brookman, a former firefighter from Des Plaines, argued strongly against the horizontal system, claiming it could expose emergency responders and patients to harmful fumes. He successfully convinced his colleagues to opt for the vertical system, which he believed was safer. However, the city's fire chief, Alan Wax, disagreed, stating that current practices didn't put anyone in harm's way.
At the time of the original vote, Chief Wax said, “Right now, our practices don’t put people in the way of fumes.†Despite this, the council went ahead with the change.
During the March 17 meeting, Mayor Bogusz introduced the rescission resolution, calling the decision “a solution in search of a problem.†He argued that choosing an ambulance with a vertical exhaust system wasn’t a policy matter but an operational one. “This body needs to work to stick a little closer to policy,†he said, according to video footage from the meeting.
This ongoing debate highlights the tension between operational needs and policy decisions, and raises questions about the role of the City Council in such matters. With the aldermen now seeking legal input, the situation is far from settled.
Thanks, Dan.
Two Seats Electric Car,Handicapped Tricycle,Eec Electric Car,Disabled Tricycle
YUMBOMOBILITY LTD , https://www.yumbomobility.com