Elgin hires consulting firm to search for fire chief

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Elgin is in the market for a new fire chief.

City council members agreed Wednesday to pay consulting firm Par Group as much as $20,000 to replace former Fire Chief Mike Falese.

Falese resigned in July to take a job as assistant fire chief in Bartlett.

Under the agreement with Par Group, the city will pay a flat fee of $14,500 and reimburse up to $4,500 for travel, phone and other expenses.

City officials have said the firm will conduct a nationwide search.

After Falese resigned, the city hired former Elgin Fire Chief John Henrici as interim director of fire and emergency services.

Henrici is a 46-year veteran of the fire service. He became Elgin's fire chief in 1986 and served for 17 years until his retirement in 2003.

He was awarded a 90-day contract in August worth about $37,000.

City officials, however, say it likely will take longer than 90 days for the search firm to find a new fire chief.

"Typically these things take anywhere from six months to a year," Assistant City Manager Sean Stegall said. "You take as much time as you need."

In that case, Stegall said, Henrici's contract will likely be renewed.