Is it true that you were a school teacher in California? Where on earth did you get the idea that YOU knew anything about what a firefighter needed or didn’t need?

For the past few months I would watch you on the internet from my home and be intrigued when you would speak about “your findings” and “your research”. I really thought you knew what you were talking about. What credentials do you have to speak with any authority about what our young dedicated professionals need? I really think that it’s time for you to step down from the SFD Board. Don’t wait for November, just take whatever dignity that you thought you had, and resign.

It is interesting how you even bothered to mention the formation of a Chapel station committee, and the fact that they compromised on the 3 bay vs. 2 bay argument that has ensued for the last 5 years. That in itself was not an easy task., That committee was made up of professionals and honest-to-goodness taxpaying citizens, I’m still unclear about why your Chairman appointed 8 good people to study the problem from the beginning, and come up with a recommendation, because as you just stated yourself on this website, you then proceeded to do your own extensive research! Even though the Committee greatly reduced the size and cost to meet you and your group half way, you decided to find something that fit your own personal specs! (again, YOUR words. Your letter says, “I wanted,” “I started looking,” I narrowed,” “I decided” “my criteria,” I found,” “I contacted,” and “I presented!”

I do not believe you want the people of the Midway area to have a station at all, but I have seen the design you have unilaterally “selected” for us. As someone who owns a home within a stone’s throw of where the station will be built, I’ve seen cowbarns that are more attractive. The Chapel property we speak of is between two beautiful houses of worship, and just a few feet south of the road leading to one of the biggest tourist attractions in town: the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It goes without saying that the new chief that you just spent $14,000 hiring says the design you submitted will not meet the needs of the district as is, either.

Look Craig, may I be blunt with you? You took absolutely NO interest in the fact that we needed a 6th fire station in the past. The need has been verified by three different chiefs now. It’s needed in order to balance the needs of the community. It will lower response times to the Chapel area and just as important, to the Village, when their ambulance is out. The only reason you’re gun ho lately, is because you knew with a new board the truth would prevail. You simply wanted to jump in and try to lead the parade so it goes where YOU and your three recalled friends want. Some think you simply interjected your little plan to start up the controversy of the past 5 years all over again about size, design, and cost. Well, it won’t work this time. There are now four honest people on the fireboard that are going to be reasonable and fiscally responsible, while at the same time, serve the taxpayers by using the available expertise around them.

Tom M., uptown

I appreciate elected officials who represent the taxpayers and THOUGHT that you were one of those people. As a person who likes to read between the lines, when you say, “to represent the taxpayers”, I noticed that you didn’t say; represent ALL taxpayers or MOST taxpayers. It appears that you represent only a hand full.

I would appreciate if, during the remaining time that you have on the Board, that you stop pushing your own agenda. Your subtle attempts to twist words benefits only yourself, because you think that the general public doesn’t notice, BUT WE DO. Such as:

• A few meetings ago, you were discussing how many firefighters would be staffed at the Mid-way station. Knowing full well that you were stating miss-information, you spoke about 6 – 10 firefighters working at the station. That miss-information was quickly corrected by Chief Kris who told you VERY CLEARLY that the number of staff always was and always would be 3. Did you recant your miss-information, NO!

• You present your “report” to the community appearing to be the “WHITE KNIGHT” trying to save us hundreds of thousands of dollars with YOUR version of a fire station from Colorado. Unfortunately for you, Chief Kris clearly explained that YOUR station didn’t meet the basic needs of a fire station on many levels. I can only imagine how much more YOUR station would cost if built to proper standards, perhaps the same as the LEA station? Would you ever admit that?? Didn’t think so.

Mr. Dible, my friends and I won’t soon forget that YOU are one of the five that were found guilty of the open meeting law. You are just as culpable as your three partners in crime.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Rodger Thomas
VOC – On Line Viewer

With all the things that were left out of your submitted,design that fire houses actually need to function. Things that the Chief mentioned at the last meeting, such as, turnout gear decon area, place to fill the scba and oxygen bottles and a place for the officer to do his administrative duties.

There are a whole list that was mentioned that your design ommited that are included in the LEA design. These are vital to Firehouse operations and bring the cost of your firehouse design close to the LEA design. As I said maybe if you asked your own Fire experts you would of known that!!!! Or if you ever stepped foot in a firehouse and took the time to know what was needed, you might know what your talking about!!!