East Central Reporter

Former Orland Fire Chief Michael Schofield retired with a substantial payout exceeding $390,000. This amount was accumulated through the conversion of over 3,485 hours of sick and comp time, paid at a rate of $132.99 per hour. The payout drew from the district's payroll and overtime funds, impacting staffing levels.

Following this financial decision, the Orland Professional Firefighters Union alerted residents about changes to Ambulance 1 staffing. Previously operating on a trial basis for 12-hour shifts since October 2024, Ambulance 1 ceased these operations after an evaluation deemed them non-essential for maintaining service standards.

The board proposed reallocating firefighters to Ambulance 1 during emergencies as an alternative measure; however, this suggestion was declined. The union claimed that ambulance services were being cut, but the board refuted this in a press release.

A directive from the Illinois Department of Public Health on June 9 required Ambulance 1 to operate continuously or be put in reserve due to concerns raised by union social media posts. Consequently, Ambulance 1 was taken out of operation and placed in reserve status pending a waiver submission to return it to its previous operational status.