“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Friday, January 16, 2015

Donors alone keep rural EMT service afloat for 40 years - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL

Donors alone keep rural EMT service afloat for 40 years - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL


Not in Peru but a story of community effort that is worth passing along.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

We really need to move away from these small departments toward a county system with FULL TIME EMT's and ambulances stationed at the various hospitals and or clinics. Take all the effort and funding and funnel it through the county.

This could probably be done for all of the emergency services departments... ambulance, fire, and police. The ambulance would be the easiest to implement first - I think.

OK - I'm standing by for the emotional arguments and flaming from everyone that is tied to the 1960's and 1970's memories and small town stations, redundant services, and redundant administration. Flame Away!

Anonymous said...

State Police operate as district very efficiently. How large is District 17 or other districts. For years we have stayed with the same old thing because it is all we know.
Everything else around us has improved such as Interstate 80 & 50, technology, helicopters and helliports.
10:31 I am from the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's etc. and I agree with you. As a idea becomes older it should become better not stay the same. Full knowledge and usage of a computer alone should be a certain pathway to increased efficiency.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. Why every Podunk town needs to duplicate these services is beyond me. That is why so many are mismanaged. we just don't have the pool of talent around here. Lump the management all together at the county in Ottawa and be done with it.

Anonymous said...

Illinois is morbidly obese when it comes to government: We have nearly 7,000 separate taxing bodies, the most in the country; 2,000 more than Texas and California, which have much larger populations.
We need to let go of little districts and consolidate everything from Fire Departments and ambulances to schools and even police forces.

Anonymous said...

10:31
For endless years, generation after generation and forever all you heard was local autonomy.
It was the end all and only form of representation anything less or more was wrong and afterall why give up something that you know can work on the chance something else was better.
Proof of this mindset was the attempt to update Peru government with 1 alderman/ward and 2 at large alderman. The advantages of this outweighed the present 2 alderrmen/ward in all catagories except one - the old guard and its leadership wants nothing to change.
They consider change and its end results as bad which nothing good can come out of. It reduces needless jobs and outdates personnel who do not want to update, it should cause fairer methods of employment and do away wih nepotism, it will determine and update distribution of wages and manpower.
If you don't believe that change is one of the most difficult subjects to accomlish in LaSalle County just make a sign and stand on that magical bridge that seperates LaSalle-Peru, Peru-LaSalle trying to do the logical, combining the two towns.
Business updates and changes, unions update and change, but government does not update nor change and they have become the most sheltered by laws they make to protect themselves. No one else in the world has the pensions, health insurance, fringe bendfit pacages that the government has. Their pensions alone are breaking state after state.

Anonymous said...

We simply CAN NOT consolidate local services - I will not support this at all. Especially schools! I do not want my kids going to a school in a different city. It is bad enough that we have to share a high school.
Peru services should be for PERU ONLY! And I don't want to have to rely on some guy working for the county to do anything. Period - end of story! Geeesh where do you people get ideas like this? It is just crazy! Why would you want to loose control?

Anonymous said...

Whats going on with all the mbulances heading north today?

Peru Town Forum said...

3:40 PM

From your comment I assume you are one of those that believe Peru is the be all end all of everything. We are so lucky to have a combined high school, it gives the students the opportunity to open their minds to young people who don't live in Peru but are great people. It's unfortunate that adults don't have the same opportunity very often. You must also believe that Peru schools have no problems. Please wake up and leave your cocoon and see the world as it is.

Anonymous said...

It is silly, irresponsible, wasteful, and downright stupid to pay the for he overhead of two cities for what is one city. LaSalle and Peru are geographically, socially, and economically joined at the hip. One cannot exist without the other. They are in all actuality one city - lets make that a legal reality.
At the same time - all the other initiative can be completed - namely change to a manager form of government.

Anonymous said...

[start sarcasm]

Maybe we can get the Boss on board with merging LaSalle and Peru if we promise to name the new city Harlsville, or Harletown, or Maybe Harlkinberna Park.

[end sarcasm]

Anonymous said...

4:04 Lois someone expresses an opinion that they like our school district and services kept local and you say "From your comment I assume you are one of those that believe Peru is the be all end all of everything." This was followed by "Please wake up and leave your cocoon and see the world as it is."

When did they say something like that? What is it with you and your hatred for Peru and it's people? "One of those"? "Leave your cocoon"? They didn't say anything that the vast majority don't also think! I see the ugliest comments about Peru people on here who do not agree with you that we live in some awful place. That is your legacy.

But I live in Peru and care deeply about my community and can tell you that the average Peru citizen interacts with people outside of Peru. The vast majority of us have friends and family and work all over the place. I have a good job and interact with people all over the Illinois Valley and beyond. Does this mean that I am enlightened somehow? Apparently not, because I actually agree with 3:40, aside from the LP comment. And so does just about everyone else.

Some of you act like it is a high crime that we have our own police department and think it would be better if this was shared with the county? In a town with far more retail per capita than any other for many miles, which any police officer will tell you presents an entirely different dynamic. Do you want the county board or sheriff deciding what we have in our community for a police force? Are you joking?

Bloomington-Normal doesn't share a police force. Neither do the many suburbs that are all squished together. Most tiny towns have their own chief and a squad car or two.

What's wrong with a little community pride, knowing our tax rate in Peru is also pretty low and far less than your favorites of Ottawa and LaSalle? How come every time somehow says something nice about our town, you trash them?

Like I said that is your legacy. You could have created this to do good and promote involvement and be proactive but instead it is where people like me will either be banned from posting or if you do, I will get trashed for being stupid, an "insider" or just a "sheep" who doesn't want to change.

I can assure you that I am none of those. So go ahead and ban my comment or post it so that your couple dozen friends can rip me to shreds. I deserve it for posting something so crazy.

Anonymous said...

it is sad that a vital service like this needs to be funded on nothing but donations. I mean, this is what we pay taxes for. I know that Tonica does not have the tax base to support this - that is why we need to leverage economies of scale and merge this with an overarching County Based EMT and Fire Department. Take ALL The money that ALL the communities in LaSalle County pay for fire and EMT, pool it together and make one big department with "sub stations" throughout the county.

Peru Town Forum said...

8:38 AM

As a graduate of LP and of the junior college, I was personally offended that the blogger felt it necessary to insult the school by saying that it was too bad we did not have our own high school. Most teachers have always been excellent, the school and auditorium and stadium are definite treasures for the Illinois Valley and most people are amazed to see what we have here in the local area. The school is shared with other local towns and I personally believe it is of benefit for all students to share a school with those from La Salle, Oglesby, Dimmick and Utica inside of trying to isolate them from the surrounding schools by having a high school only for Peru. And the cost would be enormous and unnecessary.

I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

@9:33, I agree, and there would be one fire chief. Yes, this person should have at least a bachelor's degree in fire science, if not a masters.

Anonymous said...

8:38 - in response to your post, Yes, I would rather our police force was under the direction of our ELECTED county sheriff.

County based emergency management (police, fire, ambulance, etc.) would be vastly more economical than the uncoordinated and disparate departments we have now. Don't use the argument that we would have less protection if we merged the departments. I think for the average person, the only thing they would notice is that LaSalle County would be painted on the side of the vehicle instead of the city name. What the average citizen would not notice is:
1. Fewer administrators, which would free up budget dollars for "doers."
2. Uniform training.
3. Uniform employment standards.
4. Uniform education requirements.

Finally - we cannot leave something as vital as community policing and fire protection to volunteers and amateurs. Somebody said that the "chief" should have a bachelors degree. To them I say - every officer, every fire fighter, and every EMT should have a bachelors degree in their field.
This is not 1972 any more folks!

Anonymous said...

Isn't a two year degree an associates? Is there such a degree as an associates degree in fire science. I've never understood the title of fire engineers with the city. Doesn't our city have 4 people full-time employees with this title? Isn't the title of being an engineer meaning highly educated with at least a bachelor's degree?

Anonymous said...

You do understand that there is not enough tax money county wide to staff sub stations throughout the county. Would you continue to use volunteers like Peru? Where would all the manpower come from if no volunteers? How far apart would these sub stations be? Paying for electricity and heat used 24-7 since they are to be manned. Is it an ideal system as it is now? No. But I would rather have dedicated volunteers with training courses under their belt who can be in that truck in 5 minutes when my house is on fire than wait for someone sitting in a sub-station that could be 20 miles away.

Anonymous said...

In following this discussion I would like to add my thoughts. First the towns of Tonica, Oglesby and Utica do not have a hospital within 5 to 7 miles of their main population area. In the time of a medical emergency a minute saved is invaluable. Being a former charter member of the Oglesby ambulance service I fully support that the above mentioned outlying towns should have their own ambulance, fire and police departments. The city of Peru and LaSalle should have a combined fire and ambulance service with their separate police departments. The cost for the various types of fire fighting trucks approaching a half of million dollars plus is being unnecessarily duplicated by the individual towns of LaSalle and Peru. One fire department with full time personnel and standby trained volunteers would be more efficient and cost effective.

Anonymous said...

1:38, you don't understand. Take everything we have now. Leave it in place, maybe redeploy some equipment, but largely leave it as it is. Move all the administrative functions to Ottawa and eliminate the redundant administrative functions and people. Now, take all the money that each town is paying and send it to the larger force in Ottawa to administer.
I bet you would end up with emergency services which are more qualified and have the same response time or faster.

Lora said...

Putnam County has there a county wide ambulance service but it only works because of trained first responders from the local fire depts. I agree with 1:38.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:38 AM
You are in favor of small local services I am in favor of large district services. District is as efficient and in most cases more efficient at a lesser cost. This a personal preference which should be continuously revisited annually.
As variables change so must our ways of doing things change. Years ago we didn't have blogs nor people willing to administer them for no financial gain. Today we have blogs and not many people who will do anything if financial gain is not involved. As you have seen the administrator of this blog posts both of our comments and all others that are presentable to the general public no matter if popular or unpopular, agreeable or disagreeable, in her favor or not in her favor. These are reasons I participate in the blog and am thankful for as I am sure you are also. It takes a enormous amount of respect and open mindness to accept and print the opinion of all. In conclusion I ask you if you could truthfully and fairly administrate a blog when recieving a comment as harsh and insulting as you submitted to the owner of this blog. I know I could not.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, my comment is meant for 8:38 A.M.

Anonymous said...

How in the world was 8:38's blog insulting but the earlier post by Lois is not?

Anonymous said...

8:38 am, Bloomington Normal doesn't share a police force. Bloomington has a population of over 75,000 people. You can't possibly compare that to Peru, with a population of 10,000. If we combine Peru, LaSalle, Dalzell, Spring Valley, Oglesby, and Tonica, we still wouldn't have 75,000 people.

Anonymous said...

In Peru the title "engineer" means , whoever is standing there when someone needs their butt kissed . Peru full-time guys aren't any more educated than any other fireman in Peru , LaSalle, or any other town around . Some Peru fireman " engineers" don't even have special training required by new applicants . That's what a union does for us , "grandfather's" in old guys so they're not required to be educated .

Anonymous said...

The PFD is hiring. Are they hiring for a full time position or paid on call position? If full time, is somebody retiring or quitting?

Anonymous said...

7:15. If I read your comment correctly, are you saying that true life experience with many years under your belt counts for nothing? You would rather have a kid right out of school that sat in a room reading books and passing a paper test vs someone that has hands on experience for the majority of their life? Wow. Scary. Be careful who you choose for a doctor.

Anonymous said...

10:37. If the "true life experience" you speak of is gained in the Illinois Valley, I'll take a kid right out of school six days a week and twice on Sunday.
Life experience in our little land of milk and honey is mostly limited to drinking and gambling.

Anonymous said...

I'll want every guy we have to have to credentials of the guys we're looking for . This eliminates favoritism . If the old guys don't want to learn their trade as set forth by the law and the State Fire Marshall then they need to go . Gary had both years of hands on experience plus all the book knowledge needed to do the job. Too bad all the others don't! This makes an easier decision when we're deciding whether to call Peru or another town for help. We want the experience and the knowledge coming to help us and not some cocky overpaid fireman that happened to get the opportunity to work fulltime .

Anonymous said...

life experience in the LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby area.
1. Go to high school, play football or baseball. Get drunk a lot.
2. Go to college in Bloomington, get a C's - put pass with a BA in something. Get drunk a lot
3. Come home, get a job from Dad or one of Dad's friends. Get drunk a lot.
4. Spawn some children and watch them play football in High School. Quit drinking because a DUI's cost to much.

Alternative life experience.

1. Graduate high school and go to college or join the military.
2. See that there is a world beyond L-P
3. Don't come back.

Anonymous said...

I don't think its the area. Its the individual and what they want. Drinking and Gambling is not the way of life for many of the successful individuals in the area. Find a role model.

Anonymous said...

@4:02, I do do a little gambling and have had a few drinks in my lifetime. I agree with 3:12

Anonymous said...

Not everybody in this area is a drinker. I went to high school and then went to IVCC for 2 years. I received my degree in Associates in Science. I am not a school person, so I was offered a full time job. I believe and proven fact that you do not need a bachelors and or masters to become a chief. I have learned more by doing my job then if I sat in a classroom at a University. I do not learn by listening to a teacher and having my head inside of book. Not only that, having to pay loans off for the rest of my life.

Anonymous said...

7:16. I guess i am out of the loop then with our fire department. They have successfully put out many fires that last few years, antique mall and westclox comes to mind, and in my opinion, everyone of them went above and beyond with few or no injuries. You mean to tell me that these guys were no good at their job because they didn't have your preferred certifications? No wonder you posted anonymous. Hope you never have an emergency.

Anonymous said...

So what stage of life is 3:12 since he or she is so critical of those in the Ill Valley?

Anonymous said...

3:12- #4 I would say is wrong. There are more 40+ - 70+ drinkers in this area then 21 year olds. Why? 21 year olds don't come back alot of times after college. The ones that stay, work a couple jobs to stay afloat and live at their parents house. Higher paying jobs is what we need, not minimum-$10 jobs.