Last month, the fire chief of Elk Grove Village announced his retirement, which became effective on July 1st. In the interim, the position has been taken over by Bill Balling, a seasoned professional with extensive experience. Balling spent 29 years as the village manager for Buffalo Grove before moving on to serve in a comparable capacity at the Lombard Fire Department. His current role involves overseeing the department's administrative tasks and functioning as a consultant to evaluate various aspects of the department. For these services, he charges an hourly rate of $168. However, the day-to-day supervision and fire suppression operations remain under the purview of Elk Grove’s Deputy Chief Scott Miller.
The Daily Herald broke the news about Balling’s appointment last week. According to their report:
> Balling, who hails from Arlington Heights, won't receive any benefits or contribute to a pension. His contract is open-ended, and at $168 per hour, his earnings could reach $6,720 for a standard 40-hour workweek and $26,880 for a full month. Following former Elk Grove Fire Chief Dave Miller’s retirement last Friday, Deputy Chief Scott Miller has continued to manage the Elk Grove Fire Department's daily activities, particularly its fire-suppression efforts.
Interestingly, Balling already draws an annual pension of $129,462 from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Given that Elk Grove Fire Department personnel contribute to a separate fire pension system, Balling’s new position will not impact his existing IMRF pension.
Elk Grove Village recently offered more details regarding Balling’s responsibilities, clarifying the rationale behind the fees involved:
> On his very first day on the job, the new interim fire chief was already tackling issues head-on, responding to criticisms surrounding his recruitment. Village authorities clarified that the $168 hourly rate agreed upon with Balling’s consultancy firm, WRB LLC, represents the cost of professional services rather than a single individual's salary. Balling stated that his responsibilities encompass overseeing and managing the fire department’s overall operations while conducting a comprehensive operational analysis of the department's practices.
> “This is quite a multifaceted role,†Balling explained about his temporary assignment. “We’ll have between four and five professionals working on this together—experts in both management and firefighting. This project will require significant time investment. The village is safeguarded through this fee-based arrangement.â€
For those interested in reading the full follow-up piece from the Daily Herald, it can be accessed HERE. A related article in Fire Chief Magazine is also available.
In conclusion, Elk Grove Village has ensured transparency regarding Balling’s engagement, emphasizing the value of expert oversight during this transitional phase. While some residents may still have concerns, the village aims to ensure that these measures align with their long-term goals for maintaining public safety.
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