Longtime Manhattan Fire Board Trustee Larry Goodwin has retired after 20 years of service to the Manhattan Fire Protection District’s board. Goodwin’s retirement comes after last month’s departure of Bill Weber, who served the district for 40 years.
Though Goodwin was regretful in his decision to resign from the board, he explained he needed to do so due to his hearing difficulties.
“I have enjoyed the 20 years of service to the Manhattan Fire Protection District as a trustee and have witnessed the growth and improvements of the department. Chief Malone and staff have done a very professional job, and I am pleased at how well this Fire Protection District is run,” Goodwin said in his letter.
Despite his resignation, Goodwin intends to still be around and said he looks forward to a station tour once the new station is complete. He wished the board success and reiterated he felt the board was in good hands.
The Will County Board appoints the members of the fire board and will do so for the replacements for the vacancies created by Goodwin and Weber’s retirements. The district has tapped Jeff Dvorak, of Manhattan, and Tim Ireland, of Peotone, to fill the vacancies. The appointments were expected to be made at the county’s next board meeting.
Fire Chief Steve Malone said the district would hold a luncheon to honor Weber and Goodwin and thank them for their service.
New Strategic Plan Implementation Begins
The Manhattan Fire Protection District has begun implementation of its strategic plan. The board had been working on finalizing different components, such as its SOP manual and creating the strategic plan. The plan is intended to help inform and guide decision-making from 2026 through 2030.
Malone gave a detailed presentation explaining how the strategic plan affected the board, how the board can help the district meet its goals, and how the district can meet the expectations set by the board.
He explained that every decision made by the board should seek to strengthen one of “the five Rs,” which include: response, readiness, resources, relationships, and resiliency. Using the strategic plan, the board is intended to govern policy, policy direction, budget and capital investments, evaluate the organization’s performance, and ensure alignment with the community risk.
Malone also outlined the reporting cadence that will help the board keep the organization accountable to its goals and performance expectations.
New Station
Battalion Chief Bruce Boyle reported that construction of the new station is going very well, with a lot of activity and finishing work underway. All technology has been implemented, and the admin side of the building is entering the final stages of work.
The district anticipates having a final punch list by July 20 and a tentative ready date of August 1.
Other District News
Repairs have been completed for the ambulance that was involved in an accident with a deer. The district anticipates having the brush trucks by the end of the year, Boyle said.
District Accountant James Howard reviewed the finances, which are in good shape. In 2029, the debt on two engines will be paid in full.
The board reappointed Commissioner Jerry Kinsella to the Board of Commissioners.
The district has applied for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, a federal grant dedicated to financing staffing for a few years until the district can take over funding for wages. The district hopes to secure the grant and be able to hire three additional members to keep the ambulance and tender up and running at Station 2, which is currently a jump company.
A jump company essentially responds to a first call with the appropriate apparatus but leaves the station empty. They are intended to supplement the other stations. Hiring additional personnel would make the other apparatus available.
The district is also promoting three lieutenants, and the battalion chief test is coming up in August for those qualified to take it. The official swearing-in ceremony for those who have been promoted will take place in October.
Deputy Chief Dave Piper’s report indicated service quality remains exceptional, with operations remaining stable under demand. They are looking forward to seeing changes in response times with the new fire station located nearest the highest volume of calls.