The Daily Herald recently published an article discussing a proposal by a Batavia city council member to restructure the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA), suggesting it be placed under the supervision of the fire department.
A city council committee recommended this week that the ESDA be overseen by the fire chief. The current director, Jeff Glaser, has been leading the agency part-time for 35 years and is appointed by the mayor. He strongly opposes the change, arguing that the ESDA has served the community well as a volunteer-based organization.
Councilman McGrath, who supports the proposal, believes that as Batavia has grown, the need for more professional oversight has increased. He pointed out that the fire department now handles fewer actual fires, but has gained more expertise in emergency management. McGrath also noted that the mayor may not have the time or experience required to effectively manage ESDA on a daily basis.
Under the proposed structure, the fire chief would serve as the ESDA coordinator, with an ESDA manager reporting directly to him. Volunteers would then report to the manager. Whether the ESDA manager should be a paid employee remains up to the city council’s decision. Notably, the 2013 budget does not include any funding for a full-time ESDA worker, despite previous allocations of $10,000.
The ESDA’s 2013 budget totals $29,183, with $17,000 allocated for the installation of a tornado siren near Louise White Elementary School.
Schielke, another supporter of the change, argues that aligning ESDA with the fire department could help secure state accreditation from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. This accreditation would open the door to federal grants and allow the agency to acquire new equipment. Currently, two of ESDA’s vehicles are over 60 years old, and the last new vehicle received from the city was a Jeep Cherokee in 1995.
ESDA is responsible for maintaining the city’s outdoor warning sirens and assisting during emergencies such as fires, traffic accidents, and large public events like the July 4th fireworks. It also provides lighting for rescue operations, operates three boats for water and ice rescues, and maintains an ambulance. One of the Army trucks has been modified for grass fire suppression. Additionally, ESDA manages the city’s disaster supplies and oversees the shelter at City Hall during emergencies.
You can read the full article here.
Thanks, Dennis
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