Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Chicago Ridge and Oak Lawn have decided to end their yearlong trial of sharing a fire chief. The arrangement, which allowed George Sheets to serve both departments, has now come to an official close.
With Chicago Ridge hiring a full-time fire chief, Sheets will now focus solely on his role as the head of the Oak Lawn Fire Department, a position he's held for six years. He requested the change so he could dedicate himself fully to Oak Lawn, where he’s been a key leader.
Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar expressed that the village will miss Sheets, but added that he won’t leave until a suitable replacement is found—whether that takes three or six months. “The arrangement was working well, and I wish we could continue it,†Tokar said. However, managing two departments at once proved too demanding.
Over the past year, Sheets spent about two days per week in Chicago Ridge. He took over from Robert Muszynski, who resigned in 2014 due to personal disagreements with some officials, including Tokar, over potential changes to the fire department.
At the time, Tokar wanted to reopen the 107th Street and Lombard Avenue firehouse without hiring the seven to eight firefighters Muszynski believed were necessary. Instead, part-timers were used to staff the station. An ad on the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association website highlights Sheets’ achievements in Chicago Ridge, including reopening the station and cutting personnel costs. It also notes that the new chief’s salary will be based on experience.
Beyond re-opening the long-closed station, Sheets introduced a part-time firefighter program that now includes 11 members and is expected to grow to around 15. These part-timers help ensure six firefighters are on duty during each shift, more than before, and the system is functioning smoothly. The station at 107th and Lombard is currently open for 12 hours a day but will soon operate 24/7, according to Sheets.
Under an agreement between the two village boards last July, Chicago Ridge contributed one-third of Sheets’ salary—$37,695. The village has 13 full-time firefighters and 23 part-time or on-call firefighters. The fire department’s budget for fiscal 2015 was $2.7 million, and it responds to roughly 2,600 calls annually, most of which are medical emergencies.
Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury clarified that neither she nor the trustees pressured Sheets to return to full-time duties in Oak Lawn. “No, no, no,†she said. “Everyone benefits from shared resources.â€
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