This from Karl Klotz:
I rec’d limited information today in MABAS Division 15, the Custer Park Fire Dept will cease to exist.Effective today, the Braidwood Volunteer Fire Department has “officially” assumed total responsibility for the Custer Park Fire Protection District. Braidwood will answer all calls within the Custer Park Fire District.Karl
#1 by Cindy on May 21, 2015 - 2:21 AM
The Department is on its way to becoming better than ever. A new Chief, new projects, new members and new ideas are becoming a reality.
#2 by another concerned resident on January 1, 2014 - 9:46 PM
Its true look it up on the will county clerks website the building was quit claimed to the road district. Greed has overpowered what is best for the community I guess the road commisioner needs a new building worse than we need fire protection
#3 by Concerned Custer Resident on December 28, 2013 - 8:56 PM
I’ve been at the open meetings and there is a lot of finger pointing and false accusations, as well as false claims. You didn’t offer any solution to the situation. The quick claim deed is actually a fact, not a rumor as implied…the Custer Township Volunteer Fire Department was established as a not-for-profit corporation in 1964 according to the Illinois website…I assume to provide a service to the community of Custer Township, and now they’ve lost it. Established for almost 50 years now. This is a time the Fire Dept and Custer Park community could be celebrating 50 years of consistent service from a small, rural volunteer dept and instead it is being flooded with controversy because of pure politics between the township board that paid them with taxpayer money all these years and the fire department board. All parties involved need to put aside their personal opinions of those persons on both boards and come to an agreement for the better of the community as a whole. I’m not taking either side as both have valid concerns from what I’ve seen. I don’t have a solution either but I don’t think doing nothing about it is the answer either and the residents it directly affects need to be involved and told all the facts.
#4 by observer on December 28, 2013 - 5:06 PM
Concerned Res, I think people need a little substance before they take sides. Everytime we turn around there is a new rumor. Where did this one come from??? When did this supposedly happen, I drove past today and the place looked the same.
#5 by Concerned Custer Resident on December 28, 2013 - 1:28 PM
Update…true or false? legal or illegal? Tell me how the Custer Park Volunteer Fire Dept can get a quick claim deed and sign over the fire building to the Custer Park Road District (Rick Hall, road commissioner). What if there’s a major disaster and all that fire equipment is just sitting there locked up…Aren’t all of these boards funded by us taxpayers? Who cares about what the people of this township think and how our hard earned tax dollars are spent? Other residents need to speak up.
#6 by custerparkan on grant on December 5, 2013 - 7:59 PM
My comment was not about all responders, as I am one myself, and I also know that my responsibility is to arrive as quickly as I safely can, and also that at no time is it acceptable to recklessly endanger anyone especially when responding. I don’t have any kids nor would I have them play in the street if I did, so you can drop that it’s your own fault routine. We are a small community and we know and see what’s going on, esp. use of the fire barn as some folks’ personal playhouse. When you are asking people to pay more taxes to fund something maybe it would help to act more responsibly and not thumb your noses at their concerns
#7 by Scott on December 5, 2013 - 6:46 PM
Mike, maybe in your area of the world your “Full-time” manning sucks… but metro Chicago, NW burbs, some of DuPage, Cook, Lake & McHenry county manning of apparatus daily is excellent as is funding. Yes, there are problems; started with the economic downturn and continues, but your area of the world way different then most of Metro Chicago.
I do agree with you about the attitudes of newer firefighters! For the most part, this is the same, regardless of Full-time, Part-time, POC, POP or Volly across all States.
#8 by MABAS 21 on May 21, 2015 - 9:59 AM
Scott:
Not sure which departments you’re talking about, but alot of the full-time or combination full/part time departments/districts in Metro Chicago are grossly understaffed and have had their budgets practically slashed in half because of the economic downturn. Apparatus manning in Divisions 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 27 is poor and unsafe. Even affluent suburbs, such as Highland Park, are running with 2 man suppression companies which is the norm in many places. Others are running with 3 man jump companies which results in an out of service, unstaffed vehicle, in quarters depending on the type of incident leaving that area unprotected…hence a longer response time from the next closest staion. So your comment about full-time manning is not exactly true.
#9 by Mary on December 5, 2013 - 5:15 PM
There legally can be no tax increases. It is truly time that we get some truly qualified people to take over the fire dept. The whole situation needs to be investigated by the States Attorneys office. When they refused to turn over the book keeping, enough was said! It is criminal behavior to mishandle tax payers money!
#10 by Mike on December 5, 2013 - 2:25 PM
It is always a shame to see the closing of a fire district or department. Regardless of all the issues, it will in most cases leave a hole in the community. Custer residents are lucky enough to be bordered on 3 sides with staffed fire agencies (Braidwood, Wilmington and Limestone). However it will be a bit of a drive for all of them in inclement weather….. Best wishes to all involved.
#11 by Crabby Milton on December 5, 2013 - 6:47 AM
It amazes and troubles me that so many people get indignant and revert to the lowest common denominator mindset when it comes to first responders carrying out their mission. Yes there are a handful of people that act stupid and abuse that status. Years ago, there was a MPD district station a block away from my house that in recent years has become a special unit station that serves all of Milwaukee. But back in the day, squads often would fly out of there down the street at freeway speeds. My neighbor would get all upset saying why can’t they radio ahead? My kids are playing out here. Well in the first place, she should have been glad they are responding to combat the criminal pukes which should be more upsetting than a cop car going fast. Second, tell your kids to stay off the street or go play in the park or backyard.
#12 by J. on December 4, 2013 - 8:50 PM
Every day? That’s doubtful. They probably run <50 calls/year. Speed is cited as an issue in any respond-from-home department…yet the people that complain are the ones who want to know why the department is surrounding and drowning, saving basements, instead of making interior attacks. You can't have it both ways. Braidwood is going to have one heck of a drive to the east end of Bauer Rd. That's 11 miles, folks…
#13 by custerparkan on grant on December 5, 2013 - 3:27 AM
Not doubtful, fact. You don’t live here. I’m talking about the 2 irresponsible idiots who tear up down our street every day, NOT in response to fire calls. Yes we will miss the fire dept, my comment was that they won’t have that excuse for being idiots anymore
#14 by Custer Park Fireman on December 4, 2013 - 6:53 PM
Well I guess when people have an axe to grind they will stop at nothing even if it is at the expense of the community
#15 by Mike on December 4, 2013 - 5:37 PM
Outside of the speeding issues, it is a shame that Volunteer, POC and Part-Time departments are diminishing. The fact is, Full-Time departments cannot fund adequate personnel to effectively mitigate most serious incidents. With our economy in the crapper, the lack of dedication with younger people and lack of serious direction/leadership, I don’t see the public safety sector getting better. So, the residents have/had 2 options. 1, stay with a fire district that probably cant get an engine out consistently, OR 2 go with a fire district that will arrive with inadequate resources.. Clearly, Braidwood will do their best, but the overall problem in ALL our communities, lack of funding and dedication wont be corrected in the near future. Just my opinion tho
#16 by custerparkan on grant on December 4, 2013 - 11:06 AM
Oh no you mean the Halls will no longer have any excuse for flying down our street @ 75mph everyday? How sad….