By: Diane Benjamin
All information is from the Bloomington packet: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8269
– The City has to pay $10,260 to the IEPA for the Operating Permits violation. They were sued by the Attorney General – documents are included. The fine could have been a lot worse. (Starts on page 50 – use the PDF page numbers)
Meanwhile, Bills and Payroll show the following for OUTSIDE legal expense:
LEGAL Contracted Legal 63,860.00 (Springfield Law firm)
LEGAL Outside Legal Co 27,363.87 (various law firms outside of Bloomington)
– Several Fire stations want a system to remove exhaust. It looks like a hose that hooks to a tailpipe and then vents outside. No word on why the doors aren’t opened when the vehicles are running. The cost will not to exceed $135,000.
Will the 6 Points Road fire station in the middle of nowhere get one too?
I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.
You are supposed to forget it exists!
Obviously, I haven’t forgiven it’s existance yet…lol
The exhaust removal system is designed to keep diesel fumes out of the appartus bay when vehicles are started. This is a safety feature mandated by the National Fire Protection Association. The firefighters and paramedics are exposed to the diesel exhaust fumes many times each work day! Why not provide them with the safety equipment they deserve?
Diesels run much cleaner now than they do in the past. You guys haven’t needed exhaust systems for a hundred years but now you do? You’ll end up getting them though, fire and police get whatever they want.
It’s mandated by the NFPA. Yes I can see a reason for it. I would venture to say those vehicles don’t have a diesel particulate filter.
The citizens of Bloomington need to tell their aldermen to spend money where it is needed and not for some sign at the Coliseum or some useless Flamingo exhibit.
Unfortunatelty, Renner and Hales think every project is a must have. Story later.
Why not save the $ 135,000 & let them run outside? Seems like that’s what the private citizens would do instead of spending the money that they do not have in their BUDGET.