Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
This month, Mundelein made a bold move by not filling its vacant fire chief position and instead promoting its police chief to oversee both departments. The decision has sparked discussions about further government consolidation in the area.
Village Administrator John Lobaito explained that the new structure will be a 12- to 24-month trial period while the village explores ways to share resources with neighboring communities. Countryside Fire Protection District, just a short distance away, is already interested in collaborating. Fire Chief Jeff Steingart said they're open to exploring future partnerships.
"We opened the door to start a conversation about what we can do together," Steingart said. "It's still early, but once things settle down, our leaderships will meet to discuss possibilities."
The interest stems from Senate Resolution 760, passed unanimously by the Illinois Senate in July. It encourages local governments in Lake County to consolidate to save taxpayer money and established a committee to study the matter and report back by October 2016.
Mundelein’s shift came after more than three months without a fire chief or deputy. Tim Sashko retired in April due to a recurring neck injury, and Deputy Chief Tim Leidig left for a job in West Chicago. That left the department without top leadership.
In response, on August 10, the village trustees created a new role: public safety director, which was filled by Police Chief Eric Guenther. This move effectively eliminated one administrative position from the payroll.
"This isn’t the final step," Lobaito said before the vote. "It’s temporary until we decide it doesn’t work or find a better solution."
Battalion Chief Ben Yoder, who had been handling all administrative duties, was promoted to deputy fire chief during the same meeting. Internal promotions are expected to create only one firefighter opening, according to Guenther, and no new positions will be added in either department.
The ordinance specifically states that the roles of fire chief and police chief won’t be eliminated, just left vacant in case the village decides to return to the previous system later.
By not replacing Sashko, Mundelein is saving over $135,000 annually. Sashko’s final salary was $147,113 per year, while Guenther now earns $971.66 per month as public safety director—$11,659 per year. However, his police chief salary was $153,340, meaning he received a 7.6% raise.
Countryside already shares some coverage with Mundelein’s fire department, and Steingart believes merging administrative roles could be manageable. The Countryside fire station along Midlothian Road is actually located in Mundelein, though it doesn't cover surrounding homes or businesses.
Countryside serves around 35,000 residents across 24 square miles, including parts of Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Indian Creek, Kildeer, and unincorporated areas. In the mid-1990s, an agreement was made between the two groups: Countryside would assist with emergencies on Midlothian Road, and Mundelein would help with Route 45.
"I think full consolidation is possible—not just between Mundelein and Countryside, but with other agencies too," Steingart said. "It’s a long process, but we all want to save lives and already help each other."
Consolidation is already happening in the dispatch area. For years, Vernon Hills’ police department has operated a dispatch center that also coordinates services for Countryside, Lincolnshire, and Libertyville. This setup helps reduce costs and improve communication during emergencies.
A study is currently underway to explore even bigger mergers. Further consolidation could lead to better bulk purchasing, reorganization of lower-level jobs, and improved service without raising taxes.
Vernon Hills Police Chief Mark Fleischhauer, who manages the dispatch center, mentioned that the Lake County Emergency Telephone System Board is starting a $350,000 study on a potential countywide dispatch center.
The board also contributed $2 million in 2014 toward new radio towers in Lake County, which are owned by Illinois but operated by Motorola. Lake County covered the remaining $7 million to install the technology, as older radios used by sheriffs and public works crews were becoming obsolete.
Once these towers are up, anyone with the new handheld radios and dispatch equipment can use the network. The Vernon Hills dispatch center is already doing just that.
On July 7, Fleischhauer convinced Vernon Hills trustees to support the study and approve funding to transition the current dispatch center to the Motorola network. Previously, the system relied on a small number of local radio towers. Now, the cost is shared between state agencies and more municipalities across Illinois.
Fleischhauer said if a countywide dispatch center is built, crews in Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, and Countryside would already have the necessary radios. However, Mundelein’s police and fire departments are not part of the current Vernon Hills dispatch system, and officials are still evaluating their options for radio networks.
The adults Inflatable Bathtub is an environmentally friendly and convenient bathtub. Its advantage is that when not in use, it can be stored and placed. It is also very convenient to use it. As long as the inflation is completed, you can take a bath immediately. You can even use it when you travel, so that you can always experience the fun of bathing.
The inflatable bathtub is a new type of bathroom facilities. The durability of the inflatable bathtub is poor, and its advantage is that it is very small to collect. When used, it can be used by inflation. When not in use, it can also be folded and put on. It is convenient to carry, which can effectively solve the problem of space.
inflatable bathtub, blow up bathtub, adults inflatable tub, adult foldable bath tub, adult portable bath tub
Lixin Outdoor Product Co., Ltd , https://www.pdinflatable.com