Dear Manteno Residents & Businesses,

As your Fire Chief, and as someone who lives and works here in this community—I want to take a moment to talk openly about the lithium battery facility project and what it means for public safety.

Anytime something new comes into town, especially something technical or unfamiliar, it’s natural for people to have concerns. That’s not just understandable—it’s healthy. My role is to look at these concerns through the lens of emergency preparedness and community risk. And I want to be clear: the risks associated with lithium battery facilities are real—but they are manageable.

When I say “manageable,” I mean we know what the risks are, we know how to prevent them, and we are trained and equipped to respond effectively if something does happen. We’ve already been doing that for other risks for years.

Think about it: every day, we manage risks from highway traffic on I-57, Rt 50 & Rt 45; the numerous trains carrying a lot of really bad stuff daily, fuel stations, industrial farming chemicals, warehouses, and even chronic strains from overuse of our 911 system by non-emergency care facilities. In fact, some of the greatest strains on our emergency services right now come from repeated, non-emergent calls from tax-exempt facilities & our senior population, which tie up ambulances and staff we need for true emergencies. That is a less visible—but more unpredictable and ongoing—risk to our community.

In contrast, a facility like the lithium battery facility is something we can plan for in advance. We’re working directly with numerous agencies and the company itself to ensure that all the right safety & protection systems, protocols, and training are in place. We’re updating our emergency response plans and seeking out specialized training and resources as needed.

At the end of the day, our job is not to take sides – it’s to keep people safe, no matter what changes come to town. This is a risk we can understand, prepare for, and manage responsibly. I want you to know we’re committed to doing exactly that. But it’s a shared responsibility that takes our entire community to ensure its success!

We will continue to keep the public informed and prepared. If you have questions, please feel free to call or stop in to discuss your concerns.

Sincerely,

MANTENO COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Scott O’Brien
Fire Chief