La Grange Official Leaving At Month's End

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange Fire Chief Terry Vavra is set to leave the fire department at the end of the month.

Vavra has led the fire department since June 2019. He also has been chief of fire departments in Norridge Park and Buffalo Grove.

Village President Mark Kuchler proposed that trustees approve John Buckley, formerly chief of the Pleasantview Fire District, as the interim fire chief.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, trustees are expected to vote on a resolution honoring Vavra. He has more than four decades of experience in fire departments.

The resolution praises Vavra for leading the department through the pandemic. It credits him for starting a program for Medicaid ambulance billing that resulted in more money for the department.

Under his watch, the department renovated the fire station's kitchen and bunk room and took part in the regional Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, according to the resolution.

Trustees are set to vote on Buckley, who has 33 years of experience in fire departments. He would work under an independent contractor agreement, meaning he would be ineligible for benefits.

His agreement would be from Jan. 1 to June 1 while the village searches for a new chief.