Feathers have been ruffled and personality differences continue, but Iroquois County 911 board members assure the public emergency services will remain in place.

Several emergency responders, including 911 board members, are not happy with Iroquois County Board Chairman Rod Copas and board members who supported a vote to reduce the size of the ETSB Board. The argument is – professional know-how is lost and the county board does not have a workable plan in place to keep operations intact.

Besides that, the 911 members are insulted by Copas claims that the board is 'neglecting its duties and mismanaging the operations.'

Ashkum Fire Chief Jeff Glenn says the county board doesn't have a handle on what's going on.

The 911 Board Tuesday night voted to make a proposal to the County Board to oversee dispatching services, even once the board is reduced from 12 to six members.

Glenn and Milford Fire Chief Frank Hines, both of whom serve the 911 Board, say there's management responsibilities the County Board doesn't understand.

Hines has been on the 911 Board since it started in 1995. He points out the budget problems started when the County and the City of Watseka failed to meet their obligations and the ETSB board picked up the slack. The two organizations, Hines said, are $345,000 behind in payments. He says it was not a lack of planning.

94.1 WGFA