Franklin Park Herald Journal: Franklin Park firefighters welcome U.S. Rep. Quigley

The following article appeared in the Franklin Herald Journal on January 31, 2014. A link to the original article can be found here.

By Mark Lawton

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-5th of Chicago, sat at a table near the kitchen in Franklin Park’s main fire station Jan. 30.

A few weeks ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it was awarding $461,724 to the village to hire three new firefighters. Quigley, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, pushed for the grant, and came out to see where the money was going.

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley shakes hands with a Franklin Park firefighter while Fire Chief Steve Iovinelli looks on. | Mark Lawton/Sun-TImes Media

Fire Chief Steve Iovinelli and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley. | Mark Lawton/Sun-Times Media

After some discussion about the Chicago Blackhawks — Quigley is a huge fan — the talk turns to staffing the Fire Department.Chief Steve Iovinelli said the department stopped contracting out its paramedic services a few years ago, a move that saved $820,000.

“More and more departments are realizing you can bring it in-house and save money,” Iovinelli said.

While he talked, a dispatcher on the intercom interrupted. There was a call to the 9400 block of Chestnut.

Those firefighters not out on a call trickled into the room and shook Quigley’s hand. Between introductions, the conversation turned to freight trains blocking car traffic. Iovinelli said the department has three fire stations because of the railroad tracks.

“They’re using Franklin Park as an extended rail yard,” Village President Barrett Pedersen said.

“We’ll talk to them,” Quigley said.

Group photo at the Franklin Park fire station on Jan. 30. | Mark Lawton/Sun-Times Media

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley admires a photos of the Chicago Blackhawks in the office of Fire Chief Steve Iovinelli during a visit to the Franklin Park fire station on Jan. 30. | Mark Lawton/Sun-Times Media

Iovinelli showed Quigley and his assistants around the station. They looked at the sleeping quarters, training room and garage. In Iovinelli’s office, Quigley admired hockey jerseys on the wall and then showed off photos of President Obama at the White House on his cellphone.

Quigley posed with firefighters for a photo before heading out, as a dispatcher voice came over the intercom again, calling for an ambulance to an apartment complex.