"I believe in South Beloit. I believe in the grit of our residents."
Guest columnist Joshua Loyd shares a few thoughts on what's next for the fire department in South Beloit.
*Disclaimer: Guest columns are the author’s perspective and do not imply endorsement by the Rockton-Roscoe News.
"For almost a year, I’ve raised the alarm about staffing shortfalls at our South Beloit station. I’ve filed FOIA requests, attended meetings, and spoken plainly: the numbers don’t add up. We were told—publicly and repeatedly—that three personnel would be assigned per shift. The contract, however, only asked for two. That’s not a rounding error. That’s a breach of public trust.
This intergovernmental agreement, unprecedented in scope and impact, was sold to us as a solution. Instead, it strained a system already described as strained. We’ve heard references to national standard response times—standards we cannot meet if help is coming from another state. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re realities, and they’ve been laid bare at multiple concerned citizens meetings.
Now, the fight isn’t just for one extra person per shift. It’s for transparency. It’s for adequate staffing. It’s for a system that doesn’t hide its flaws behind bureaucratic language and selective communication. We’re navigating problems that seem deliberately obscured from public view, and that’s unacceptable.
But I believe in South Beloit. I believe in the grit of our residents—their intelligence, their work ethic, their refusal to be silenced. That’s what it will take to get through this. Not just resilience, but resolve. Not just hope, but action.
We need accountability. We need leadership that doesn’t just nod politely but acts decisively. We need a clear way forward—one that respects our safety, our voices, and our right to know the truth.
This isn’t just about staffing. It’s about trust. And South Beloit deserves better.
Joshua Loyd is a South Beloit resident, often seen and heard at South Beloit city council, school board, and concerned citizens meetings. He has announced his candidacy for South Beloit mayor in the upcoming April 2027 municipal elections.
