Archive for April 2nd, 2015

Elections for trustee positions with the Fox River & Countryside Fire Rescue District

Excerpts from the Kane County Chronicle:

This election season is giving voters in the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District a first: a contested race for trustee.

Pam Turriff, 62, and incumbents Robert Handley, 63, and Chuck Dunham, 68, are vying for two six-year terms.

The April 7 election is the second consolidated election since 2012, when district residents voted to have elected trustees. Previously, the Kane and the DuPage county boards appointed the trustees at the recommendation of their respective board chairman.

The candidates in the April 7 race share similar goals regarding firefighter pay.  The district has placed a referendum on the spring ballot that, if approved, would lead to increased wages, among other investments.

Handley and Dunham – who both saw the fire district go from a paper district that contracted services from St. Charles to a fully functional district with two stations and land for a third – said competitive wages would help the district retain personnel.

The incumbents said their experience with the district separates them from Turriff … [who] said she would bring a fresh perspective to the board.

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2-Alarm fire in Maywood, 4-2-15

This from Michael Paige:

Maywood went to a 2nd Alarm for a house fire at 906 S. 5th Avenue at 3:30AM on Thursday (4/2/15). Fire started in the basement of a 2 1/2-story frame and traveled up to and through the roof. There were no injuries.

house fire at night

Michael Paige photo

house fire at night

Michael Paige photo

 

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Elections for trustee positions with the Tri-State FPD

Excerpts from the chicagotribune.com:

Three candidates are running for the one open seat on the Tri-State Fire Protection District Board, but there’s not a lot of campaigning.

Julie Strenzel, a board incumbent, did not respond to messages and emails to discuss her candidacy. Strenzel has been under the microscope of the Better Government Association for moves she has made during her tenure on the board. The BGA reported last year that Strenzel is in a civil union and raising a family with former Tri-State Chief Michelle Gibson, but still voted to approve a retirement agreement that paid the former chief about $136,000 for unused sick days and vacation time.  Strenzel is also on record approving late career pension spikes for two other former chiefs, as well as an assistant chief.

Matthew Goodwin, a former U.S. Army major, said the BGA investigation is one reason he is running. “I am concerned with the way the board has been run in the past, the issues that have resulted in BGA reports,” Goodwin said. “It is not the type of scrutiny we need.” Goodwin said that stewardship, service and transparency are the pillars of his campaign.

“We don’t need personal agendas and personal priorities,” Goodwin said. “We need good stewards of taxpayer dollars; and the board need to operate in an open and transparent manner as much as possible.” He said that he is concerned about the pension-spiking that has occurred.

The third candidate, Eric Habercoss, a lieutenant with the Cicero Fire Department, agreed. “I have lived in the district 10 years and I have seen the BGA and Doings articles about the misappropriation of funds,” Habercoss said. “I have been a career fireman, 22 years. I want to make a positive impact on the community.” He noted that a practice called pension spiking, where those nearing retirement are giving higher raises their final years to augment their annual pension payment, will cost the district $1.5 million during the next 20 years.

“We need to stop the wasteful spending,” Habercoss said. “The district’s legal fees were more than $500,000 a couple of years ago. There is a lack of bidding for apparatus equipment.” He noted that the Tri-State Board recently decided that all tapes of meetings more than 18 months old will be destroyed. “I am not going to vote for destroying anything,” Habercoss said. “There needs to be accountability in the district.”

The Tri-State District serves parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook and unincorporated DuPage County.

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Box Alarm in Skokie, 4-1-15

Skokie firefighters responded to a house fire at 9163 Lincoln Avenue Wednesday morning at 11AM (4/1/15). Multiple Skokie companies were committed to EMS runs at the time. A header was visible to units responding, and a Box Alarm was requested prior to arrival, which brought assistance from Evanston, Wilmette, and Morton Grove in addition to companies for change of quarters.

This from Adam Levinson:

Here are some photos from the Box Alarm at 8163 Lincoln in Skokie.

-Adam

firemen preparing to enter a house on fire

Adam Levinson photo

house on fire

Adam Levinson photo

firemen operate a hose during a house fire

Adam Levinson photo

firemen at fier scene

Adam Levinson photo

firemen operate a hose during a house fire

Adam Levinson photo

firemen at fier scene

Adam Levinson photo

Skokie FD Ambulance 17

Adam Levinson photo

This from Steve Redick:

This from Larry Shapiro:

Some images from Skokie’s Box Alarm on Lincoln. I arrived quite late.

fire scene aftermath

Larry Shapiro photo

firemen after fighting a fire

Larry Shapiro photo

Skokie FD Ambulance 17

Larry Shapiro photo

Skokie Police Departmetn mobile command post

Larry Shapiro photo

fire engine with hose off at fire scene

Larry Shapiro photo

Here’s the radio traffic

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