Loyd Appointed Assistant Du Quoin Fire Chief

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Mayor John Rednour Monday appointed Du Quoin Fire Department Captain Rick Loyd to the position of Assistant Fire Chief.

It was a proud and emotional moment for Du Quoin police and fire commissioner Linda Fronek--Rick's mother--who abstained from the vote.

It would certainly have been a proud moment for the late police and fire commissioner and retired fire chief Richard Fronek--Loyd's stepfather--who had hoped to live to see this appointment.

Loyd has been a member of the department since June 15, 1995, and will work alongside newly named Fire Chief Bob Shaw. At some point Loyd would be in line to succeed Shaw as chief.

Loyd, 39, and Shaw, 49, are almost exactly 10 years apart in age.

One-by-one members of the council fully concurred with the mayor's decision and expressed not only their congratulations but their profound faith in the ability of Loyd and Shaw. The soft-spoken Loyd in many ways mirrors the late Fronek. Loyd and Shaw are both very sincere and gifted firefighters with a great history in the department.

The chemistry should be very strong.

The council has asked the police and fire merit board to begin testing to fill the vacancy in the department created by the retirement of Fire Chief Brett Crain.

Iother action, the council:

Approved a roadblock application submitted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church for May 22, 2010

Approved a resolution in support of the Boy Scouts of America 100 years of service-Kaskaskia District

Approved a National Historic PreservatioMonth resolution.

Approved Ordinance 2010-O04-01: An ordinance authorizing the Prevailing Wage Rates for the City of Du Quoin-Public Display

Resolution 2010-R04-03: a resolution authorizing the execution of a municipal lease agreement with Municipal Services Group, Inc. for a new water department sewer vacuum truck.

Resolution 2010-R04-04: A resolution authorizing the City of Du Quoin to operate a business district grant in conjunction with TIF District's #1 and #2 (see grant story above)

Tabled approval of a bid for the City of Du Quoin electrical service

Approved Dave Eatonand Linda Paris for reinstatement to the Tourism Board

Approved the street closure of Mulberry Street from Mainto Park Streets to facilitate the Hospice Poker Run on May 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - with an alternate rain day of May 23.

Approved to proceed with the condemnations located at 104 West South Street and 508 South Division Street.