Des Plaines ambulance controversy (more)
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The Chicago Tribune recently published an article that follows up on a previous post about the decision to cancel an ambulance purchase that had initially been approved in Des Plaines. The story highlights a growing concern among some city officials over the legitimacy of the reversal.
Three aldermen—Patricia Haugeberg, Dick Sayad, and Jim Brookman—have requested that the Illinois attorney general’s office or an independent legal firm review whether the council’s decision to rescind the ambulance purchase was legally justified. Their request was included in documents released ahead of the next City Council meeting.
The original approval of the ambulance purchase came after a heated debate over the design of the exhaust system. The city had voted 5-3 in favor of the ambulance with a horizontal exhaust system, which places the exhaust pipe beneath the chassis. However, just two weeks later, the council reversed its decision, with Mayor Matt Bogusz casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of rescinding the purchase.
Brookman, a former firefighter, argued that the horizontal system posed a health risk to both first responders and patients due to the potential exposure to harmful fumes. He successfully convinced his colleagues to switch to a vertical exhaust system, which places the exhaust above the ambulance. However, the city's fire chief, Alan Wax, disputed this need, stating at the time that current practices already ensured safety from fumes.
In his speech during the March 17 meeting, Mayor Bogusz criticized the decision, calling it “a solution in search of a problem.†He emphasized that the choice of an ambulance with a vertical exhaust system was more of an operational decision rather than a policy matter, and urged the council to focus more on broader policy issues rather than technical specifications.
This ongoing debate reflects a deeper tension between operational needs and policy oversight in local governance. As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see if the aldermen’s request for a legal review will lead to further action or clarity on the matter.
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