Police chiefs voice support for Liberty dispatch center

Opinion: February 27, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

EDITOR:

As chiefs of police, we strongly encourage the citizens of Liberty Township to support their local Police, Fire, and EMS dispatch center by voting for the Liberty Township 911 Dispatch Center Levy. Keeping the dispatch center in your community ensures 24 hour a day dispatch services, which will keep response times at a minimum. Each PSAP is an important part of the entire Trumbull County Emergency Communications System.

It is imperative to understand what we believe you would be giving up if the citizens of Liberty Township lose their dispatch center. Your phone call to 911, in your time of need, could be the most important call you will ever make. 911 was created to decrease the response time and gather information and eliminate delays that could be caused by unnecessary transfers. These transfers could become a reality if you lose your local dispatching service.

As law enforcement officers with more than 100 years of combined experience, we know that the dispatch centers of our police agencies are the heart of our communities’ service related needs. If you lose control of that, you will become dependent on another agency that may not be able to give the same personal and dedicated service you are used to.

Please vote yes for the Liberty 911 Dispatch Center

Chief BRUCE SIMEONE, Niles PD

Chief BRENT MILHOAN, Lordstown PD

Chief ROBERT CARLSON, Newton Falls PD

Chief MARTIN KANETSKY, Hubbard City PD

Capt. TIMOTHY BOWERS, Warren City PD

Chief FRANK BIGOWSKY, Girard PD

Lt. JOSEPH DRAGOVCH, OSP Warren

Clean the roads, please

EDITOR:

On Tuesday Jan. 22, the roads in Youngstown were buried in ice, snow and sleet. I live on campus and was making the 20-minute commute from my house after a long weekend. Being a junior at the university, I am well aware of the poor road conditions in the snow and left my house 20 minutes early hoping to arrive at my destination on time.

The snow began early in the morning and by the time of my commute it had stopped for about 45 minutes. Crews had ample time to clear the roads, yet Fifth Avenue and other highly traveled streets were laden with sleet, and many side streets leading to my residence were covered in ice and snow.

Friday Feb. 22 brought more of the same. During my 20-minute commute, the only deficient roads I encountered were in Youngstown.

Poor road conditions not only affect students but Youngstown residents as well. Regardless of a motorist’s experience, treacherous conditions can overwhelm even the finest drivers. City roads must be cleaned in a more timely manner. As a result of the prolonged conditions, there were 14 accidents reported between the hours of 8:22 a.m. and noon on Jan.22, according to an online article at Vindy.com.

In January, there were a number of questions that the poor circumstances posed, so I turned to the city of Youngstown’s Web site to obtain contact information for the Street Department. Two numbers listed were disconnected, another was “being worked on,” and a fourth rang for over a minute without answer, despite the Web site’s assurance that the department is open 24/7.

Going to school and work in the morning should not be a life–threatening journey. There are many potential risks during daily commutes, but road conditions should not be one of them.

DIANE PLATTON

Canfield