Kankakee is getting professional help to find its next fire chief. At a cost outlined not to exceed $19,500, the Kankakee City Council hired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to search for a new fire chief at Tuesday's council meeting. The council approved the contract by an 11-0 vote. Ald. Chasity Wells-Armstrong abstained from the vote. The fire department has been under the direction of acting Chief Phil Perkins since the retirement of Chief Ron Young at the end of November.