Excerpts from the oaklawnleaf.com:
Oak Lawn Fire Chief George Sheets, who has pulled double duty as chief of neighboring Chicago Ridge, is out as the fire chief of Oak Lawn. The specifics of how, why, when, and where are being sorted out but the who in the story so far is Sheets. Chicago Ridge’s Mayor sent a letter to Oak Lawn’s Village Manager Larry Deetjen last Thursday informing him that Chicago Ridge was ending the arrangement that has been in place since July of 2014 and which allowed both village leaders to pat themselves on the back for thinking outside the box. Tokar’s letter did not have an explanation although according to Chicago Ridge sources, Tokar met with Sheets and another employee of the village last week. Shortly thereafter, Sheets met with Oak Lawn’s village manager. Sheets has been chief in Oak Lawn for nine years and has 36 years of fire service in various fire departments.
Sheets appeared in a controversial piece of literature paid for by Mayor Sandra Bury’s campaign in 2017 and is considered a favorite of Deetjen. However, Sheets dropped the other shoe and announced to the fire department that he is retiring as of July 2018. But wait, there’s more because on Tuesday the village manager is asking the board to approve an agreement that removes Sheets as chief but places him in some kind of advisory role that doesn’t exist in the Illinois Municipal Code for a fire department employee. That’s a very long transition period and not standard operating procedure. If you’re confused, stay tuned because the village board will be asked to vote for this agreement even though it isn’t on the agenda for Tuesday. If you look at the agenda, it states, Action on Executive Session Items. Who’s hiding what and where are they hiding it?
thanks Keith
#1 by Jim on February 16, 2018 - 1:43 PM
Why is that absurd? So Orland Park, Naperville, Aurora, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Berwyn, Cicero, Oak Park, Palatine and Skokie are providing less service because they run 3 person staffing? How do you measure this Wayne?
#2 by Wayne on February 16, 2018 - 10:10 AM
If he came from somewhere running 3 man companies they weren’t providing the same or better service as somewhere running 4 man companies. That’s absurd.
And they aren’t providing better service using a high overtime model either. Fatigue and stress are real, especially when your chief and village are actively and nakedly working against you. While I’d wager the Oak Lawn guys are still busting their ass you can only work so many 48s, 72s, or 96s before it takes it’s toll on you. Especially when you’re as busy as Oak Lawn is.
#3 by Mike on February 16, 2018 - 9:55 AM
I’m saying that when he started there was 3 engines a truck a squad and 3 ambulances. As of today there are 3 ambulances 2 engines a quint and a pick up truck. I get it they won’t hire someone who’s gonna go against what they want but George was nothing more then a pawn in this and he bought it hook line and sinker. Even when you tow the company line you still have to advocate for the safety of your men and the residents and he didn’t do that. All it was was a paycheck for destruction.
#4 by Jim on February 16, 2018 - 8:03 AM
Mike,
Do you think the village of Oak Lawn is going to hire someone that doesn’t support their position? That doesn’t mean you are selling out, rather you have a different opinion. Maybe he came from a department that ran 3 person staffing and was providing the same services much like every other fire department in the Chicagoland area. As far as 100 to 53, are you saying they are providing less service using the high overtime model while still maintaining 4 man companies?
#5 by Mike on February 16, 2018 - 12:58 AM
Sheets sold out to the villages belief in attempted union busting, harassment of employees and advocating misinformation. Oak lawn has 4 person staffing on fire companies and George went publicly saying they can do the same or even better service with 3. The department went from 100 firefighters to 53 now. There are not enough to cover all 3 shifts and they’re hiring back 10-13 people per day to maintain manning. Companies have been taken out of service and the department has taken many steps backwards. All because the city wanted minimum manning and kept losing their fight in arbitration and court and George stood by and supported every move the village made. So since he supported that he helped with running the department into the ground.
#6 by Jim on February 15, 2018 - 10:35 PM
How did sheets run the department into the ground?
#7 by Mike on February 13, 2018 - 5:19 PM
I guys Larry’s puppets brain may have started working. So it’s time for Larry to find a new puppet to finish running the department into the ground. Stay tuned to see who the next puppet is.