Interim Effingham Fire Chief in Place

(INTERIM FIRE CHIEF BOB TUTKO TALKS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOLLOWING HIS HIRING WEDNESDAY)

Bob Tutko has been named interim Effingham fire chief.

Tutko, who lives near Joliet, was appointed interim chief during a special noon hour meeting of the Effingham City Council Wednesday. He was recommended following a search conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. 

Tutko will succeed retiring Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy, whose final day on the job as chief will be Friday.

Ironically, Tutko and Holomy have known each other some 40 years, working together stocking shelves at a Dominick's grocery store in suburban Chicago in the 1970s. Tutko began his fire service career in 1979.

Tutko said he was interested in the Effingham interim job as he wants to continue in fire service administration. He said it was possible that he would seek consideration for the Effingham chief's job on a permanent basis.

Tutko has worked as a fire chief in various communities in northern Illinois and at a department in Michigan before returning home when his wife became ill. He and wife Patti have been married for 30 years and have three children, the last of whom, he thinks, is getting ready to leave home.

The vote to hire Tutko was 4-0. Commissioner Kevin Esker was not on hand for the special session.

Meanwhile, the Fire Chiefs Association continues its search for a permanent chief for Effingham, and Holomy said he will be in the office through Friday.

That day will also be the final day for fire department executive assistant Joan Buzzard, who is retiring the same day as Holomy.

Here's Greg Sapp's conversation with interim fire chief Bob Tutko conducted following his hiring...