Started his 50-year career as Orland Park cadet
By Dermot Connolly
Chicago Ridge Fire Chief William Bonnar officially announced his retirement from a nearly 50-year career at the June 18 Village Board meeting.
Mayor Jack Lind made the announcement “with great regret,” joking that “he doesn’t have the age to retire but he decided to take an early retirement.” He then presented a proclamation to Bonnar, a longtime Orland Park resident, recognizing him for his “dedication, service and lasting impact on multiple fire departments, multiple firefighters and multiple communities where he served.”
Trustee Bill McFarland, liaison for the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, read the proclamation into the record. Former Mayor Chuck Tokar and Orland Park Fire Chief Michael Schofield were among the area dignitaries present to wish Bonnar well.
As McFarland noted, Bonnar started his firefighting career in 1976 as an Orland Park cadet, before joining the department as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in 1978. In the 1980s, while moving up the ranks in Orland Park, Bonnar also began serving as a part-time paramedic in Evergreen Park.
In Orland Park, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1987, battalion chief in 1995, and chief of operations in 2015. Starting in 1992, he also led the Homer Fire Protection District transforming it from a volunteer department with one fire house, to a full-time department with three fire houses.
“He retired (from Orland Park) in 2017, but after talking to Mayor Tokar and me, he agreed to come out of retirement to lead our department in 2018,” said McFarland.
Bonnar was hired to replace George Sheets, following an experiment in which Sheets had served as chief of both the Oak Lawn and Chicago Ridge fire departments.
“The nearly 50 years went fast. It was fun, and a hell of a ride,” said Bonnar after the meeting.
“Now, I intend to spend more time riding my Harley, and fishing, I have a small farm on the west side of Orland Park where I raise laying hens so I won’t be going too far away,” he added.
Bonnar said he will be stepping down at the beginning of July but will help with the leadership transition.
“Our board is looking into all options, both part-time and full-time,” said Lind. “We have yet to make a decision.”
The board also approved three new businesses, including Rico Burrito, at 10608 S. Ridgeland Ave.—which won’t have video gaming. A change in ownership of a gas station at 10559 S. Harlem Ave. was also OK’d. The former Thorntons station will become Amoco. Packaged liquor will be sold there, but the new owner’s request for a pour license needed for video gaming was postponed. Trustees agreed to consider it when the owner comes back with details about where the gaming will be located.
The board also approved the Planning and Zoning Committee’s recommendation to allow a Napleton car dealership at 10301 S. Harlem Ave., in the former Yellow Freight site being redeveloped.
Lastly, the board accepted an invitation to join the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce. Several years ago, the Chicago Ridge-Worth Chamber disbanded, and Lind said Chicago Ridge has too few businesses outside Chicago Ridge Mall to sustain a viable chamber of commerce on its own.
“I think this (partnership) is awesome. It is team-building.”
Jenny’s Steakhouse is participating in the Oak Lawn Chamber’s Restaurant Week currently underway, but there are more than 20 eateries in Chicago Ridge and Trustee Elaine Davenport is leading efforts to include more next year.
“This is a way for us to spotlight our own restaurants,” said Davenport, who is also looking into the possibility of having a farmers market in town.