Letter: Resident believes bright days ahead for Park Ridge

Editor’s note: For clarity, former Village President Patricia Baker approached the city in 2016 to discuss potential options for additional fire protection. The fire chief was not permitted to attend the meeting and has not been instructed by the board of trustees to speak with the city on this matter.  

To the Editor-

I would like to start by saying I am very proud to be a member of the village of Park Ridge, Village Voices.

This is a group of concerned residents that formed to ensure the voice of the residents was heard and considered by the board of trustees. It was very clear that as individuals we were not being heard or given the respect to be listened to.

I have been a resident of Park Ridge for just over two years and after attending my first two board meetings I swore I would never go back, elected officials completely ignoring the village concerns of the people did not sit well with me. It almost felt like politics.

As we have read over the last couple of months this concerned group came together as residents, communicated as professionals, and probably the best end result, I see is that strong friendships are being formed. This is a strong-willed group with excellent ideas and concerns and the neat thing is they are all mature enough to come together, pitch ideas, and negotiate with an outcome that really does satisfy all members.

It is unfortunate that the village president and a trustee had to be ousted, but change was necessary and a difference needed to be made. Most importantly the plans for a half-million-dollar fire department building and equipment were stopped. Fire protection is paramount, but a grossly unjustifiable capital expenditure was not!

As I read our fire chief’s annual report regarding the condition of equipment and past reports over the last couple of years where he questions the viability and safety of the equipment, as a public safety official, why didn’t he ever request obtaining primary fire assistance from the city of Stevens Point until
his department’s fire equipment was safe and adequate to respond to our village’s emergencies?

The immediate safety of the village residents and fire staff should have been of utmost importance, rather than gambling that the equipment might work and ultimately being able to protect our lives and property. Was there a plan in the event of a failure? A trustee told me that in the event assistance was needed by our village department, the town of Stockton Volunteer Fire Department was next called.

Based on the stated condition of our village fire equipment, a closer fire department and response time might have been more prudent.

I understand the frustration of working with ineffective boards, boards with infighting, and boards with
turnover, but I feel very confident in saying I believe those days are over.

I am very optimistic for 2021 and the new board of trustees, many of who will have hopefully come from
the residents own Village Voices.

I’d like to say a very special thanks to Jeri McGinley, Trish Baker, Steve Menzel, Joe Thompson, Matt
Chitwood, Kristin Paulson, and Gordan Renfert. Without your leadership, guidance, knowledge, and
personal time sacrificed, Village Voices, and a village board for the people would not have been possible.

Douglas Myers
Park Ridge

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