There's an interesting piece in The Southtown Star about the search for a new fire chief in Chicago Ridge following the recent resignation of the previous chief. It seems things are shaping up quite differently than initially anticipated.

Oak Lawn's Fire Chief, George Sheets, is set to take on a dual role. The village board has unanimously agreed to allow Sheets to stay on as chief of Oak Lawn while simultaneously leading the Chicago Ridge Fire Department until 2016. This decision is pending approval from the Chicago Ridge Village Board at their upcoming meeting on July 15th, according to Oak Lawn's Village Manager, Larry Deetjen.

This move originated when Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar proposed the idea of Sheets managing both fire departments. Despite reaching out to Mayor Tokar, we were unable to get a statement from him regarding Sheets' appointment. Tokar's initiative came shortly after the resignation of Chicago Ridge Fire Chief Robert Muszynski, who cited "personal differences" with Tokar, particularly over potential changes being considered for the fire department. These changes reportedly involve concerns about efficiency in firefighting and ambulance services, which could lead to the hiring of a private ambulance service or even the complete dissolution of the fire department in favor of joining a fire protection district.

Firefighter/paramedic Christ Schmelzer, president of Chicago Ridge Professional Firefighters Local 3098, mentioned that tensions were high in the firehouse following Muszynski's resignation and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the department. While Deetjen didn't comment directly on the exploration of alternative firefighting or ambulance solutions, he did express optimism about improving operational efficiencies. He anticipates that Sheets will quickly integrate into the Chicago Ridge team, planning to meet with the department's 13 firefighters to strengthen relationships.

Thanks for sharing, Dan!

I thought this was an intriguing development, especially given the challenges faced by Chicago Ridge’s fire department. Let's see how this plays out in the coming months!

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