Excerpts from the daily-journal.com:
The mayor recently confirmed that Bradley is looking to make changes within the fire department following the departure of its interim fire chief. While the specifics of these changes remain unclear, the mayor did not directly answer questions about who will lead the department or how it will interact with the neighboring Bourbonnais Fire Protection District. One possibility being discussed is appointing Ed St. Louis, the chief of Bourbonnais Fire Protection District, as the temporary leader of the Bradley department.
Earlier this year, the village hired Jim Eggert as an interim fire chief for a six-month period, with the option to extend his contract by another six months if a permanent chief had not been found. The total cost of his employment over six months was $66,000. However, Eggert’s final day came last Friday, and no replacement has been named yet. The mayor stated that the decision not to renew his contract was based on financial concerns.
Throughout Tuesday, there was confusion about who was in charge of the Bradley Fire Department. Some members believed that Ed St. Louis had already taken over. However, Captain Kevin Goudreau, president of the union, and Captain Greg Glidewell, the department’s highest-ranking officers, maintained control until further notice. Later that evening, department staff were set to meet with St. Louis and local officials. Goudreau suggested that St. Louis might be temporarily appointed as the new chief, possibly as part of a broader consolidation effort between the two departments.
While the union supports the idea of consolidation, they feel the process has been rushed and poorly communicated. Any formal merger would require approval from the village board. Currently, the department has six full-time employees and handles around 3,000 calls annually—nearly doubling its workload since becoming a full-time department 15 years ago. For months, the union has been negotiating for a new contract after the previous one expired on April 30.
A 2005 assessment by the Illinois Firefighters Association recommended several improvements, including increased staffing, the establishment of a second fire station, closer collaboration with neighboring departments, and better performance tracking software. These recommendations are still relevant today, given the growing demands on the department.
Local fire departments often assist each other during emergencies. Bradley, due to its limited staffing, relies heavily on support from Bourbonnais. However, Bourbonnais is seeking an agreement that would allow them to handle all calls north of Armour Road—a region with more privately insured customers and higher reimbursement rates. “We don’t want to hand over those calls because we’d lose revenue,†said Goudreau. He argued that it would be more efficient for Bourbonnais to respond to calls regardless of location.
Thanks, Dennis
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