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Crime & Safety

New Trustees Become Officers on Orland Fire Board

Promises of fiscal responsibility were abound at the swearing in of new Orland Fire Protection District trustees and election of new officers.

A "new era" began Monday night for the Orland Fire Protection District's Board of Trustees.

Newly-elected trustees Blair Rhode and Chris Evoy were sworn in at a special meeting at the Orland Fire District Command Training Center. The two also assumed officer positions, along with Trustee James Hickey.

Evoy and Rhode for two open fire district trustee seats, beating out incumbent . Former board president Patrick Maher stepped out of the race , as did a fifth candidate, .

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Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman gave the swearing-in oath to both Evoy and Rhode in a brief ceremony, followed by cake, coffee and conversation before officers were elected by the board.

Trustee Glenn Michalek began the election portion of the meeting with a motion for president, nominating Trustee Martin McGill, but the nomination wasn't seconded.

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Rhode then nominated Hickey, which was seconded by Evoy, and the vote was unanimously in favor.

Hickey, who has served as a trustee for two years, also called for more fiscal responsibility.

Rhode then nominated Evoy for treasurer, and he was unanimously voted into the spot. Hickey then returned Rhode's nomination with one for secretary, and also was unanimously voted into the position.

Evoy said he was excited to be sworn in and is ready to get down to business.

“I'm looking forward to helping a great organization keep going, albeit with a little more scrutiny on what goes out the door – from a financial standpoint,” he said.

and ran under the Fiscal Voices of Orland Party and both said during the campaign they wanted greater transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Rhode said he decided to run to become a more involved member of his community and as a concerned taxpayer.

“I saw my opportunity to do my civic duty – I saw a need here, which started when I saw my tax bill – that got me motivated,” he said. "We will look at the budget. I understand there are contracts and things that cannot be changed, but we just never know until we get in there."

Hickey, Evoy and Rhode gathered afterward and talked near the trustee bench, at which time Hickey spoke with reporters.

He shared a speech prepared should he be elected, which he said he didn't read because of the quick adjournment.

Hickey thanked his colleagues for electing him to the position and said he was eager for another opportunity to serve his community. He also complemented the district for its superior fire fighting techniques and personnel, and wished outgoing trustees the best of luck.

His statement was not all platitudes, as he laid out plans to go through the budget with a fine comb, looking for ways to save money and issue rebate checks – not abatements – to taxpayers when those savings are realized.

When asked if trustees Evoy and Rhode would be allies in his agenda, Hickey seemed confident they would.

“They ran on transparency and accountability, and that will definitely help,” he said. “It's a new era and new day for the Orland Fire Protection District.”

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