Excerpts from the dailyjournal.com:

The interim chief of the Kankakee Fire Department submitted his letter of resignation, effective midnight Sunday.

Interim Chief Phil Perkins, a member of the department since March 1994, turned in his letter to outgoing Mayor Nina Epstein, meaning the department has seen its longtime chief, Ron Young, as well as its interim chief, retire from the department within the past five months.

With Perkins’ retirement, the department has 47 sworn firefighters. The incoming Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong must replace him.

Young, the 12-year chief and the city’s third-longest serving chief, retired at the end of November. He had been a member of the force since February 1984.

Perkins was immediately tapped to serve as his replacement on an interim basis.

The city entered into a contract in February with the Illinois Fire Chief Association to conduct a search for the new chief. It was anticipated a new chief likely would have been in place June 1, but with the change in city leadership, the process obviously has been slowed.

Wells-Armstrong said last week she planned to use professional associations to not only help find a fire chief, but a police chief, as well. Police Chief Larry Regnier retired in April.