Another Board - Made Up of the Usual Suspects

How many boards does DuPage County need? This board is made up of all the usual suspects including the DuPage County Board members and DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference.  

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Information: Johnna Kelly 630-407-6022

Thursday, August 09, 2012

McBride Appointed Chairman of ETSB

County Board member JR McBride (District 4) was recently appointed by the DuPage County Board to serve as the new chairman of the Emergency Telephone Service Board (ETSB).

Chairman Dan Cronin said McBride will work directly with County and municipal emergency personnel in the coordination and maintenance of the 911 system.

“I am confident JR will provide the leadership skills necessary to modernize the 911 system and enhance this very important public safety tool,” he said.

McBride, who has served on the County Board since 2006, will begin his term as chairman of ETSB on Friday, August 10. He will fill the vacancy created by Patrick O’Shea, who resigned as chairman.

Funding for the agency will be a major issue in the forefront for McBride and ETSB. Currently cellular phone users are charged a 73-cent surcharge through the Wireless Emergency Telephone System Act, however, that surcharge is expected to sunset in April 2013.

“The sunset of the surcharge is a concern for all emergency personnel around the state since we rely heavily on that funding to provide 911-related functions for public safety such as dispatch services, infrastructure and equipment,” he said.

Without the funding, McBride said the costs would be passed on to local public safety entities such as the DuPage County Sheriff.

McBride, who also serves as chairman of the Legislative Committee, said the County will work with state legislators to pass a bill through the Illinois General Assembly that would provide stable funding for the emergency system.

ETSB is made up of eight board members from the DuPage County Board, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, DuPage Fire Chief’s Association, DuPage Chief of Police Association, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, DuPage Public Safety Communications (DU-COMM), DuPage County Office of Emergency Management and one citizen representative.