Patch publishes inaccurate news story on Fire District & merger

By Ray Hanania

The Patch is a great source of information but it should also have checks and balances on the publishing of news and information.

This week, Patch writer Lauren Traut published an article on the growing controversy regarding the issue of “consolidation” or “merger.”

The story is titled: “Orland, Tinley Leaders Refute Rumors Of Fire Departments Merging” and published March 21, 2025.

The article reflects the views of individuals on the “consolidation” and “merger” issue but makes a false and inaccurate claim about a “vote” that was taken at the last meeting of the OFPD on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

inaccurate Patch article by Lauren Traut

To quote the inaccurate story:

“Led by Fire District Trustee Tina Zekich, the board at that meeting unanimously passed a motion for District Spokesperson Ray Hanania to compose a press release negating the rumors. As of March 20, that has not happened.”

In fact, there was NO VOTE taken to direct me or anyone to issue any statement.

There WAS a vote at the end of the meeting to have a discussion on the issue and a member of the board asked that a release be written. However, a vote was not taken on after the discussion to publish a press release.

Press Releases involving policies or any issue must reflect the entire board, not just individual members. They focus on what the Fire District does and avoids, as Fire Chief Michael Schofield has repeatedly stated, avoids engagement in local politics.

When I was first hired to write releases and assist in news media management, the district was consumed in political battles and issues instead of on the great work that the firefighters were doing to save lives and put out fires. It took time, but politics was removed and the focus shifted to the Fire District’s achievements, which we should all be proud of.

Additionally, at the direction of the board and Fire Chief, press releases are created to showcase events that, for example, honor the achievements of the firefighters and the district, put a spotlight on individual firefighters who have done so much to make this district the best in the nation, retirements, senior events, and the annual Open House.

The Orland Fire Protection District is the best because until today it has focused exclusively on how firefighters and the administration serve the best interests of the taxpayers and avoids outside political arguments.

– The OFPD has the highest Cardiac Arrest Save Rate of 71 percent, compared to a national average of only 10 to 15 percent. That means residents in the district who experience Cardiac Arrest have a 5X greater chance of survival when treated by our great firefighters than they do in other areas.

– The OFPD also has the highest “Insurance Service Office (ISO) Class 1 rating, placing it among the top 3% of fire departments nationwide. That high rating results in our homeowners and businesses receiving the lowest premium costs for insurance, huge savings, and benefits for our taxpayers. A lower ISO Rating of, say, ISO-3 or ISO-5 would result in higher insurance premium costs.

The issue of a “merger” or “consolidation” is a political issue and every member of the fire district can take a position on it individually, and they have.

The board has NOT voted to issue one statement on the controversial political topic of “consolidation.”

The issue of consolidation HAS BEEN DISCUSSED in the past. Consolidation also is another word for “take-over.” Many mayors, supervisors, and officials of other governments have discussed the issue of consolidation, have slated candidates to take over the district, and would love to take over the OFPD and merge us into their governments. Consolidation, or a “take over,” would help them financially, although it certainly would not help the taxpayers of the Orland Fire Protection District.

Another issue is the focus on the Fire Union which is running a slate to takeover the Fire District.

My personal opinion is that Unions should not control governments. Unions should be engaged in fair negotiations with governments, to ensure the protection of the best interests of the taxpayers. That is something they CANNOT do if they control the government they are negotiating with.

If the Patch wants to cover this issue accurately, they could have called me to get my response, as I have sent them many press releases from the OFPD. But, I was not called.

That is why I was compelled to write this response.

If the board of trustees of the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) votes to issue a press release on the so-called “merger” or on the so-called “consolidation,” a release will be issued representing the policy and position that the BOARD will craft together as elected members of the taxpayers. But no directive has been given that had the vote of the board. No statement that reflects a Board consensus has been crafted by a vote of the board.

The Patch relied on misinformation from the Union, which has made many personal attacks against me and others during the past few months. All one has to do is read the board minutes of that meeting on Feb. 25, 2025.

Every member of the board is free to issue their own press releases and make their own political statements. But it does a grave disservice to the integrity of the Fire District to lie and assert that there was an official vote to issue a press release on a political.

While some trustees have expressed their views on the “merger” or “consolidation” issue, others have also stated that discussions have taken place and there is apparent disagreement.

Issuing a press release conveying that political issue without a formal vote of the Fire District Board would be a disservice to the integrity of the Fire District. It drags the Fire District back into the ugly world of political contention of the past which is surely a real tragedy that overshadows the district’s many great achievements in saving lives and putting out fires.

As a resident and taxpayer of Orland Park and the OFPD for 40 years, I feel I have a responsibility to clarify the inaccuracy of the news story, which reflects the political contentions of one political slate and drags the Fire District into a cesspool of ugly misleading, and inaccurate politics.