HR0953 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0953 LRB103 43345 LAW 76661 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Fire Chief Marty Feld of the Niles Fire Department on the occasion of his retirement after more than 38 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld began his career as a firefighter with the Niles Fire Department on October 5, 1986; he was promoted to lieutenant in 1996, serving as the department's paramedic coordinator for the next nine years; after being promoted to the rank of district chief in 2005, he developed training programs still in use today and created a return-to-work initiative for firefighters after extended leave; he also held a number of other roles, including EMS officer, training officer, and fire investigator; throughout his career, he maintained his status as a licensed paramedic in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld focused on efficiency and fiscal responsibility during his tenure as chief, securing $1.9 million in grants to bolster department resources, including a Safer Grant to fill a staffing shortage, and joining the Ground Emergency Medical Transport program to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance service costs; further, he restored the much-needed deputy fire chief position and returned the 1941 Pirsch fire engine to Niles after many years away, and he was credited with reorganizing the organization into EMS, training, and operations divisions, improving its operational focus; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld helped navigate the Village of Niles through the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining direct fire and EMS services to the community; he implemented new safety protocols, ensured the availability of protective equipment, and secured more than $800,000 in reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses from Cook County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld has launched a number of public outreach initiatives, including annual pancake breakfasts and open houses, fire extinguisher training, and a smoke detector installation program responsible for installing over 1,500 detectors in local homes; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld has been instrumental in fire truck and ambulance designs and builds over the years; he also worked on the Fire Station 3 renovation, and he has been actively involved in the new Fire Station 2 project; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld has had the strong support of his wife, three daughters, a granddaughter, his parents, and many siblings and extended family members; and

WHEREAS, Fire Chief Feld will conclude his career with the Niles Fire Department on November 30, 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Fire Chief Marty Feld of the Niles Fire Department on his retirement, and we thank him for his more than 38 years of service and dedication to the Village of Niles and the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fire Chief Feld as an expression of our esteem and respect.