The Manhattan Fire Protection District’s Board of Trustees Secretary Bill Weber officially retires after more than 40 years of service to the district, 20 of those years as trustee, calling it one of “the greatest honors of his life.”
Weber tendered a heartfelt resignation letter to the board of trustees, read aloud at the meeting, which highlighted his deep appreciation for the district, the opportunity to serve, and the ability to see his family members – a son, son-in-law, and two grandsons – continue the legacy by serving in the district.
Weber said he felt it was “appropriate to step aside and allow for new leadership and perspectives to continue guiding the district forward” and added the board and district were in capable hands.
Weber began as a volunteer firefighter and continued his service as the department grew from a small rural department to what it is today. Most recently, Weber was the board’s secretary.
“Seeing that growth – while maintaining the values of service, dedication, and community – has been truly rewarding and stands as a testament to the commitment of everyone involved over the years,” Weber wrote.
Weber concluded his letter by expressing his gratitude to the district and its members for their friendship and support, noting he would continue to support the district in any way he could.
Trustee Nick Kotchou was voted to be the board’s new secretary.
Additionally, other leadership changes occurred during the annual board reorganization.
Board President Bill Moncrief stepped down as president, passing the torch to Trustee Brian Hupe, who accepted the nomination. Moncrief served as the Manhattan Board of Trustees President for the past 20 years and will remain on the board as a trustee.
Hupe previously served as the Peotone Department’s President of the Board of Trustees, when Peotone was an independent department prior to the consolidation.
Finally, Treasurer Larry Goodwin stepped down from his position, allowing Mike Shivers to take over the treasurer duties.
Other District News
In other news, the board heard its annual audit presentation for 2025 from Lauterbach and Amen. The 2025 audit received a clean, unmodified opinion, the highest and best opinion auditors can give.
Construction progress on the new fire station is moving quickly, Fire Chief Steve Malone reported. Things are moving in a positive direction, and they are hopeful the new station will be completed this upcoming fall. A final date has not yet been determined.
Malone also reported they are working on a new challenge coin, which will be unveiled at a later date.
Additionally, Malone reported collaborating with the other taxing bodies on a community survey and in establishing an emergency operation plan.
Deputy Chief Dave Piper provided his report to the board on the district’s operations. April did not have any significant incidents, and operations remained stable and consistent across fire, EMS, and support functions, Piper said.
Staffing is also stable, and the district is making final tweaks in the implementation of NERIS reporting, which will improve data accuracy and reporting consistency. It will also provide performance analytics for future board reporting needs.
Response times remain consistent. The new station’s location is expected to only improve response times, given the volume of calls in close proximity to the site of the new station.
Fire and Life Safety Educator Jackie Palkovitz continues work in the community, recently conducting the Learn Not to Burn and Stop the Bleed programs, as well as CPR.
Fire Marshal Dave Kolosh is working on the Knox Box program for village businesses. The box is a secure container that provides emergency personnel with access to a home or building in the event of an emergency. Knox boxes are available for residential and commercial buildings.
Additionally, Kolosh continues to work with solar developers on ensuring their plans meet fire district requirements.