Des Plaines ambulance controversy (more)
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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 situation has sparked debate among local officials, with some questioning whether the reversal was justified.
Following the initial approval of the ambulance purchase in March, which passed by a narrow 5-3 vote, city leaders quickly reversed their decision just weeks later. This time, a resolution to rescind the purchase passed in a 4-4 tie, with Mayor Matt Bogusz casting the deciding vote. Now, three aldermen—Patricia Haugeberg, Dick Sayad, and Jim Brookman—are calling for an independent legal review of the decision, possibly involving the Illinois Attorney General’s office or an outside law firm.
The original approval came after a heated discussion over the design of the ambulance's exhaust system. Specifically, the council debated whether to install a horizontal exhaust system, which places the exhaust pipe beneath the chassis, or a vertical system, which routes the fumes above the vehicle.
Jim Brookman, a former firefighter and one of the aldermen who supported the change, argued that the horizontal system posed a risk to both firefighters and patients, especially since ambulances often idle for long periods at emergency scenes. He successfully convinced his colleagues to reject the horizontal setup in favor of the vertical option.
However, the city’s fire chief, Alan Wax, disagreed. At the time of the original vote, he stated that current practices did not expose people to dangerous levels of exhaust fumes. Despite this, the council ultimately decided to go with the more expensive vertical system.
Mayor Bogusz later criticized the decision, calling it “a solution in search of a problem.†In his remarks during the March 17 meeting, he emphasized that the choice was more of an operational issue than a policy matter, suggesting that the council should focus more on broader policy decisions rather than specific equipment choices.
This ongoing debate highlights the complexities of local governance and the challenges of balancing safety concerns with fiscal responsibility. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether an independent legal review will provide clarity or further fuel the controversy.
Thanks, Dan.