Article Summary: The Beecher Fire Protection District Board of Trustees has authorized the creation of a new Lieutenant position and will begin accepting applications at the end of March. The move, part of a broader effort to formalize district procedures, comes as the board also approved its official appointment process and noted a current staffing vacancy.

Beecher Fire District Staffing Key Points:

• The board unanimously approved the posting for a new Lieutenant position.

• Applications will be accepted from March 31 through April 11, 2025.

• Trustees also formally approved the district’s “original appointment process” for personnel.

• A current full-time/part-time vacancy exists within the district.

BEECHER, IL – The Beecher Fire Protection District is set to expand its leadership ranks after the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the posting of a new Lieutenant position during its March 20 meeting.

In a series of votes focused on personnel and procedure, the board authorized the district to begin seeking candidates for the new role. Applications will be available from March 31 through April 11, on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Completed applications must be returned by 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11.

The motion to approve the job posting was made by Trustee Mike Waterman and seconded by Trustee Dave Kolosh, passing with a 3-0 vote. Board President Margie Cook and Trustees Waterman and Kolosh were present, while Trustees Bruce Becker and Lyle Siefker were absent.

In a related action, the board also formally approved the “original appointment process,” a move that codifies the procedures for hiring and appointing personnel within the district. This motion, made by Kolosh and seconded by Waterman, also passed unanimously.

These procedural and staffing decisions come as the district navigates changes in its roster. According to the personnel committee report, the district currently has a full-time/part-time vacancy. The report also noted that another contract member is in the process of being hired by the Oak Lawn Fire Department.

During the meeting, the board also formally accepted the district’s 2024 Annual Report, another key piece of new business.

Before addressing new business, trustees entered a closed session at 7:12 p.m. to discuss undisclosed matters. They reconvened the public meeting at 7:40 p.m. and reported that no official action was taken during the executive session.

Fire Chief Joe Falaschetti and James Howard were also present for the meeting via video conference.