Interim EG fire chief to make $168 per hour

The former Buffalo Grove village manager who has been contracted as the interim Elk Grove fire chief will be paid $168 per hour for his services.

William “Bill” Balling, who starts the job on Friday, was the Buffalo Grove village administrator for 39 years, retiring in 2006. While it's unknown how much time his new oversight position will require, it could be for up to the full 40 hours a week, Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said.

Balling, of Arlington Heights, will not receive benefits, nor will he contribute to a pension. His appointment is for an indefinite period, and at $168 an hour, he would gross $6,720 for a 40-hour week and $26,880 for a full month.

Since last Friday's retirement of former Elk Grove Fire Chief Dave Miller, the role of acting chief has been filled by Deputy Chief Scott Miller, who will continue to oversee many of the day-to-day operations of the Elk Grove Fire Department, including all fire-suppression efforts.

Balling currently receives an annual pension of $129,462 from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Since Elk Grove Fire Department personnel contribute toward a specific fire pension system -- not IMRF -- Balling's new job will have no effect on his IMRF pension.

Balling is also currently project manager of the North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group, a consortium of 10 Lake County communities exploring the possibility of converting to Lake Michigan water. His agreement is to be paid as the work goes on, but so far a purchase order not to exceed $45,000 has been authorized, said Peter Kolb, director of the Lake County Public Works Department.

Balling operates a management consultancy firm called WRB LLC. He has previously provided interim administrative services for the village of Kildeer and the city of Highwood and was hired to implement a reorganization of permit processing for the village of Northbrook.

His four decades of experience in management, administration and fire department issues were looked to in his appointment, Johnson said. Though he will not be participating in firefighting activities himself, Johnson expects Balling's experience will help the department integrate the use of new technology.

Balling retired as Buffalo Grove's village manager in April 2006, after 29 years in that position.

During the 1980s, Balling oversaw the formation of Buffalo Grove's own fire department through the consolidation of the fire protection districts that had previously served the village.

Last year, he was interim fire chief of Lombard just before Mike Torrence was hired as permanent chief in October.

Johnson added that it's unknown how long the search for a new permanent chief might take in Elk Grove.

“We have no time frame on that,” he said.

Upon Balling's retirement five years ago, Buffalo Grove named its largest municipal building — which houses the public works department — after him.