Trustee Blair Rhode, from left, President James Hickey, Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman, Trustee Chris Evoy and Orland Hills Mayor Kyle Hastings pose for photos after Monday's special Orland Fire Protection District meeting. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)

May 18, 2011
Trib-Local
Jeff Vorova

New Orland Fire Protection District president James Hickey didn’t mince words.

“It’s a new era and a new day for the Orland Fire Protection District,” said Hickey, named the district’s new president by a unanimous vote during a special meeting Monday night.

He took over for Patrick Maher, who had served as president since 2003 but pulled out of the April 5 consolidated election citing family reasons.

Also on Monday, new trustees Blair Rhode and Chris Evoy were sworn in by 17th District Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman. Rhode and Evoy, members of the Gorman-endorsed Fiscal Voices for Orland political party, replaced Maher and Bob Cacciato, who lost his bid for a seat during the election.

Critics, including the Fiscal Voices political party, say the district has been spending too much of the taxpayers money.

“The writing is on the wall when you spend $30 million or $32 million on fire when everyone else spends $6 million,” Rhode said. “Any firefighter outside this district’s jaw drops when they hear what we spend in this district. We’ll get some consultants in to look at things. We’ll have firefighters come in as consultants as well. Outside eyes.”

Rhode, who nominated Hickey for president, admits that some long-term contracts and commitments will hamper efforts to bring down the budget early, but said the finances should be examined.

Orland Fire Protection District Chief Bryant Krizik, left, talks with new board president James Hickey Monday night. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)

Hickey, who has been on the board for two years, said he will go through the fire district with a “fine-tooth comb.”

While the previous board prided itself on tax abatements the past three years, Hickey would rather have the money returned in a rebate check in future years.

“With abatements, no one ever knows really that you saved any money,” he said. “I would rather send a check to every taxpayer to say ‘hey, look, we didn’t need $400 or $200 of your money. Here you go.’ It goes back. They can spend their own money. We don’t need it.”

Hickey said that at the board’s last meeting April 27 he suggested not replacing retiring battalion chief Steve Smith’s position, which would save the district $215,000 annually. The board approved the move.

Evoy said more changes have to be made after the books are examined.
“I’m a guy with a big heart, I don’t want to come in with a hatchet and chop, chop, chop,” he said. “Everyone in this community has known somebody that’s lost a job or kept a job at a reduced wage. What we do won’t be arbitrary. There will be some validity to changes that are made.”