Mundelein on Monday appointed its first fire chief since 2015, moving away from a management structure that had the police chief in charge of both departments.
Bill Lark, who has spent the last several years in various fire department leadership positions, was named the new chief.
Lark was promoted to battalion chief in 2014, deputy chief in 2015 and the position of chief deputy chief in 2017.
Mayor Steve Lentz proposed the appointment, and trustees voted 5-0 to ratify the move. Lentz also proposed repealing the ordinance that created a public safety director, which trustees also supported 5-0.
“This is truly a historic evening,” Lentz said. “I can think of few professions on earth, really, with as noble of a calling as a first responder.”