Archive for May 5th, 2015

New trustee elected to Tri-State FPD board

Excerpts from the Chicagotribune.com:

Residents in the Tri-State Fire Protection District sent a strong message for change. Eric Habercoss was the runaway winner in the three-person race, earning 53 percent of the vote, nearly doubling the next closest candidate

“I think it says voters are tired of business as usual in Tri-State,” Habercoss said. “I plan to clean up the district, I wrote my action plan months before I ever announced I was running and I never deviated from it.”

When taking into account that the second-place candidate was another supporter of reform, more than 80 percent of voters opted for someone other than incumbent Julie Strenzel, who has been embroiled in controversy. Strenzel did not respond to phone calls or emails to discuss her candidacy during the campaign. No information could be found online promoting Strenzel’s campaign.

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 for approving late-career pension spikes for two other former chiefs, as well as an assistant chief. By approving salary jumps for the employees before they left the fire district, the retired workers are eligible for higher pension payments.

Unofficial vote totals, with all Tri-State precincts reporting Tuesday night, show Habercoss with 2,406 votes followed by Matthew Goodwin with 1,218 votes. Strenzel trailed with 895 votes.

thanks Dan

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Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974 (more)

This follow up from Steve Redick relates to a rent post Chicago 5-11 at 1520 S Indiana in 1974:

I sent this out a while back and just got some additional info to share. Old time fan Chuck Bleck was working in the insurance industry at the time and prepared an extensive diagram of the fire and was kind enough to share it. Chuck also sent a copy of the report in Turnout magazine from the fire as well as some other good old CFD info.
CFD Big John turret wagon

Warren Redick photo

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago 

information from historic 5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago

map by Chuck Bleck

** a note to our younger readers who might be wondering about the odd looking type of the two summaries above … they were created with a typewriter

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New engine for Otto Township

This from Brad S.

While checking Facebook, I came across a post on Otto Township’s page. They just took delivery of a new engine and it will be placed in service in the upcoming weeks.

-Brad. S

From the Otto Township FPD Facebook page:

Engine 36 – 2014 Ford F-750/Alexis Fire -Station #2

1000 GPM Pump – 750 Gallons Tank

Today we took delivery of Engine 36 from Alexis Fire Apparatus. This 2014 F-750 will be replacing a 1976 Ford F880. Some work still needs to be done such as Letter/Decals, tool mounting and training before it is placed in service.

Ford F750 fire engine

New engine by Alexis for the Otto Township FPD. Otto Township FPD photo

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