Riddle to retire from fire department in May

Comments (...)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

SYCAMORE – Sycamore Fire Chief Bill Riddle is planning to retire in May 2010.

The decision has been known within the department, officials said, and it was mentioned Thursday at an unrelated news conference at Sycamore City Hall.

Riddle, who described himself Thursday as, “not old enough to receive Medicare, but old enough to retire,” has been the chief in Sycamore since 2000. Prior to coming to the DeKalb County area, he served the fire department in East Peoria for 20 years – first as a firefighter and later as an assistant chief.

Next year will be his 30th year serving in some capacity within a fire department, he said.

“We’re going to be working on laying out how the transition is going to go,” he said Thursday, adding that the issue will be addressed at a December city council meeting.

It is premature to begin discussing specific details about candidates for his replacement and procedural changes, Riddle said.

But any individual stepping up to fill the future leadership vacancy in the department must be prepared to face challenges presented by a growing community and a strapped economy, Riddle said.

“The situation we find ourselves in is dire,” he said Thursday. “ ... The union and the fire management and the city, have to find ways to do more with the resources that we have. We have to deliver this service in a timely manner and at the same time being cognizant of the safety of the general public.”

Facing modern challenges can be tough, Riddle added, and there is much to be discussed before his retirement, scheduled for May 1, 2010.

Comments