HR0354 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0354 LRB096 12614 GRL 26010 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Leland J. Watson on the occasion of his retirement as Chief of the Normal Fire Department in 2009 after 37 years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, Leland Watson began his service with the Normal Fire Department as a firefighter in 1972; he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant in 1975, followed by a promotion to Assistant Fire Chief in 1986; he then continued his steady ascent through the department's ranks, becoming the department's Chief in 1997, where he remained until his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Under Chief Watson's leadership, the Normal Fire Department has grown from a department of 48 employees with two fire stations and an annual budget of $2.8 million in 1997 to a department of 66 employees with three fire stations and an annual budget of $7.2 million in 2009; and

WHEREAS, The Normal Fire Department has also undergone many improvements during Chief Watson's tenure, including the implementation of an increased level of emergency medical service provided by the Fire Department, from Basic Life Support to Paramedic Life Support; the improvement of Normal's Public Protection Classification rating by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) from a "Class 3" to a "Class 2", which ranks Normal among 60 other communities in Illinois and 595 communities across the United States with a rating of Class 2 or better; the implementation of a comprehensive Public Education program in the Fire Prevention Division to promote fire safety and awareness; the revision of the department Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve to plan and fund future vehicle and equipment purchases; the development of a Technical Rescue Team; the department's participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) for coordinated mutual aid response among Fire Departments throughout the State of Illinois; and the construction and staffing of the department's third fire station; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Leland J. Watson on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Leland Watson as a symbol of our esteem and respect.