Here’s an update from ChicagoTribune.com:
Chicago Ridge and Oak Lawn have decided to wrap up their unique experiment of sharing a fire chief after a year-long trial. Once Chicago Ridge hires a permanent chief, George Sheets will focus exclusively on his role as the Oak Lawn Fire Department head, a position he's held for six years. Sheets expressed his desire to step back from dual responsibilities, emphasizing that it will allow him to give full attention to Oak Lawn’s firefighting operations.
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar admitted that they’ll miss Sheets, but appreciates his commitment to stay on board until they find a suitable replacement. Tokar also noted that the arrangement worked surprisingly well, though managing two fire departments proved challenging. Sheets has juggled both roles over the past year, dedicating roughly two days per week to Chicago Ridge. His predecessor, Robert Muszynski, left in 2014 due to disagreements with some village officials, particularly Tokar, over potential staffing changes to the fire department. At the time, Tokar aimed to reopen a closed fire station on 107th Street and Lombard Avenue using part-time staff, which Sheets successfully achieved.
Under Sheets' leadership, Chicago Ridge has made significant strides. He spearheaded a part-time firefighter initiative, which currently includes 11 members and is expected to grow to around 15. This setup allows the department to maintain six firefighters on each shift, surpassing previous staffing levels. The station at 107th and Lombard Avenue, previously operational for just half a day, will soon operate round-the-clock starting in August. Chicago Ridge had been covering one-third of Sheets’ salary—$37,695 annually—under a mutual agreement last July.
With a total of 13 full-time firefighters and 23 part-time or volunteer firefighters, Chicago Ridge’s fire department operates on a $2.7 million budget for fiscal 2015, handling approximately 2,600 calls annually, the majority of which are medical emergencies. Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury confirmed that neither she nor the town council pressured Sheets to return to full-time duties there. She emphasized that shared resources have been mutually beneficial.
Thanks for sharing this, Dan!
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