Wheaton's top fix-it man honored

Fixing a $500,000 fire engine isn't as simple as taking it to a local mechanic.

For Wheaton, the responsibility of keeping all the city's vehicles roadworthy falls on Morris Anderson, the public works department's fleet maintenance superintendent. Anderson and his seven-person staff maintain about 190 cars and trucks, including the police department's squad cars.

But Anderson's expertise with fire department equipment has earned him statewide recognition from the Illinois Fire Apparatus Mechanics Association. He recently was named the association's 2009 Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year.

Not bad for someone who started fixing engines when he repaired his dad's lawn mower.

Still, a modest Anderson said his employees deserve the recognition.

"They are the ones that make it happen," the 55-year-old Northbrook resident said. "I'm just here to give them the tools and facility that they need to keep the (vehicles) going."

Anderson was nominated for the 2009 Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year award by Larry Polas, a manager with Global Emergency Products. Polas mentioned Anderson's leadership skills in his nomination letter.

"I know the work force under his control in Wheaton," Polas wrote, "and I can personally attest to their admiration, loyalty and respect for their supervisor. A more humble and honest individual would be hard to find."

Wheaton and Anderson found each other four years ago when he applied for the fleet maintenance superintendent position. Before that, Anderson spent 32 years with Northbrook's fleet department. During his time with Northbrook, he received Automotive Service Excellence certifications and got his start maintaining fire department equipment.

Now with about 15 years of fire apparatus maintenance experience under his belt, Anderson said there's a big difference between repairing a public works truck and a fire engine.

"The fire apparatus has a whole different set of equipment on it, like a water tank, a pump, a booster tank and all the valving," Anderson said, "all the things that normal trucks don't have."

And because Wheaton doesn't have many spare fire engines, Anderson said preventive maintenance is key to avoiding bigger problems.

"It puts a little bit more pressure on us to make sure that everything is kept up to standard," Anderson said. "We can't afford to have rigs down for extended periods of time. Downtime is our enemy."

Vince Laoang, Wheaton's public works director, said the work that Anderson and his staff do is crucial because it ensures that the firefighters can do their jobs.

He said he wasn't surprised when Anderson received recognition from the Illinois Fire Apparatus Mechanics Association.

"In my time here, he's exhibited that level of excellence," Laoang said. "Internally throughout the organization, we were well aware of Mo's capabilities, experience and professionalism."

Anderson said he's just happy to work for "a great organization."

"I don't look for awards," he said. "You just try to do a good job."