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Chicago Ridge to buy quint
The website Reporteronline.net recently published an article detailing the efforts of Chicago Ridge's new fire chief, George Sheets, as he brings his experience from Oak Lawn to this smaller community. Upon taking charge of the Chicago Ridge Fire Department in July, Sheets vowed to enhance operational efficiency. True to his word, he quickly set out to achieve this goal, presenting a proposal at the village board meeting aimed at cutting the department's vehicle maintenance expenses by half through modernizing their fleet.
Currently, the department spends approximately $60,000 annually to upkeep 11 vehicles. Sheets argues that this is excessive compared to Oak Lawn's $50,000 maintenance budget for 18 vehicles. As he holds the position of fire chief in both towns, Sheets is well-versed in these figures. His solution? Introducing a quintuple combination pumper, or "quint," which combines the functions of an engine and a ladder truck into one versatile piece of equipment.
"By integrating multiple vehicles into one, we can streamline our operations significantly," Sheets explained, highlighting that this advanced model incorporates cutting-edge firefighting technologies. Although such a vehicle comes with a hefty price tag—estimated at around $650,000—the chief mentioned that state or federal grants might help defray the cost. While the village board didn't immediately approve the purchase due to some trustees wanting to inspect the truck firsthand, Sheets received authorization to negotiate directly with the manufacturer. He also noted that the price is expected to rise by 4% soon, as demo units are typically sold quickly thanks to their discounted pricing.
Sheets emphasized the need to streamline their current fleet by retiring certain older vehicles, including an aerial truck and two pumpers—one severely rusted and in need of major repairs. He received an offer of $164,000 for these three vehicles but aims for a higher sum.
In response to a concerning number of false alarms—86 in 2013—Sheets advocated for stricter penalties, increasing fines by 300%. Previously, business owners were charged $25 per false alarm starting from the seventh incident; now, the fee jumps to $100 beginning with the second false alarm.
Additionally, Sheets recommended raising the ambulance service rates, pointing out that Chicago Ridge's rates were among the lowest in the region, unchanged for six years. These changes reflect Sheets' commitment to making the fire department more efficient while addressing financial challenges effectively.