Fire Chief Forsman Admits to Using Public Space to Park RV

In June, I was out at the YMCA and saw an RV parked at the Champaign Fire Station Number 6. I wondered what that was about and did not think anything more about it till I was out there a couple of weeks later and saw it still parked at the firehouse.  An investigation alluded that it was the Fire Chief Doug Forsman who had it parked out there.

Chief Forsman confirmed via e-mail that it was in fact his, “You are correct that my personal RV was parked in a rear corner of the parking lot at Fire Station Number Six for about 2.5 weeks.”  When questioned about the rationale of that storage he stated, “.  As I am on call at all times, I much prefer being close to town and available during my after hours(SIC) time when I was accomplishing the repairs.  Thus I decided to work on it at that location. “

Forsman continues by saying, “However, it was parked at the far SW corner of the lot away from any usable areas and would not under any circumstance represent a hazard. I am unable to work on it at home since my driveway is too short.” Unfortunately, Forsman  has just unwittingly given anybody else who wants to do park their RV a broad opening to argue that they should be able to.

The problem is a working Fire Station the best place for RV storage and a repair depot? What if other fire fighters, city workers or residents want to do the same thing? Have we created a situation where a public servant can do what he or she wants just because he is in charge? Chief Forsman has created a situation where he has opened himself up to scrutiny and gives him limited recourse if some other employee tried to do the same thing. In this situation, I feel that he has overstepped his authority and needs to pay back the citizens of Champaign for his actions.

 “I don't pay for storage but normally store it outdoors at a rural property of a friend,” Forsman said. I suggest that Forsman does owe the city of Champaign rent for that time he was there.

”There were certainly no laws broken.  I agree that it was probably poor judgement(SIC) to leave it there as long as I did.  I certainly apologize if it offended you or anyone else.  It has been returned to its rural storage area for some time now,” Forsman said. A resident who wishes to remain unnamed stated to me when they heard about Forsman’s response and said, “A typical politician’s response. I broke no laws except those of common sense!”

As will see in the coming weeks, there are plenty of issues with the Champaign city government and particularly with department heads and departments. Mayor Don Gerard has had a year to try to clean things up and has been unwilling or unsuccessful. The common link between both the Schweighart and Gerard administrations is city manager Steve Carter. Ultimately, it is Carter who is responsible and whom needs to take the heat. Like Forsman, maybe it is time to retire.