From excerpts on ChicagoTribune.com:
Chicago Ridge and Oak Lawn recently announced they'll be wrapping up their unique joint arrangement of sharing a fire chief after a year-long trial. Once Chicago Ridge appoints a permanent replacement, George Sheets will step back into his role as sole chief of Oak Lawn, a position he's held for six years. Sheets expressed his desire to focus fully on leading Oak Lawn's fire department, a decision welcomed by all parties involved.
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar acknowledged the village would hate to see Sheets go but appreciated his commitment to stay on board until a suitable candidate is found, which could take several months. Mayor Tokar admitted he wished the shared-chief model could continue, praising its success thus far. However, managing two fire departments proved challenging due to the heavy workload.
Prior to this agreement, Robert Muszynski, the previous chief, stepped down in 2014 following disputes with some village officials, particularly Mayor Tokar, over proposed changes to the fire department structure. At that time, Tokar wanted to reopen a firehouse at 107th Street and Lombard Avenue without increasing staffing levels, eventually utilizing part-time workers instead.
Under Sheets' leadership, Chicago Ridge achieved significant milestones. The previously closed station at 107th and Lombard has been successfully reopened, and a part-time firefighter program has been established, now boasting 11 members and expected to grow to around 15. These part-time firefighters enable Chicago Ridge to maintain six firefighters per shift, surpassing previous staffing levels. By August, the station will operate round-the-clock instead of just 12 hours a day. Currently, Chicago Ridge employs 13 full-time firefighters and 23 part-time or on-call firefighters, with a $2.7 million budget for fiscal 2015 and approximately 2,600 annual calls, mostly medical emergencies.
Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury confirmed that neither she nor the trustees pressured Sheets to return full-time to Oak Lawn. "No, no, no," she emphasized. "Shared resources benefit everyone." Chicago Ridge has been covering one-third of Sheets' salary, amounting to $37,695, under the initial agreement reached last July. The new chief's compensation will be determined based on experience.
This innovative partnership has proven beneficial for both communities, showcasing how collaboration can enhance public services while managing limited resources effectively. As Chicago Ridge prepares to hire a new chief, residents remain optimistic about maintaining the high-quality service provided by Sheets over the past year.
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