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The Chicago Sun-Times published an article detailing the controversial retirement bonuses awarded by the Tri-State Fire Protection District Board. The piece, written by Katie Drows of the Better Government Association and dated September 2, 2013, reveals how several fire department leaders received significant pay raises in their final months before retiring, which ultimately increased their pensions.
Just three weeks after announcing his retirement as chief of a west suburban fire department in 2004, James Eggert received a $7,380 raise, boosting his salary from $105,420 to $112,800. A few months later, the board approved another raise of over $11,000, bringing his total to $124,079—nearly $18,000 in increases during his last months on the job.
Around the same time, Assistant Fire Chief James Krohse was given a $10,000 raise shortly before resigning, while Deputy Chief Alan Hagy also received two raises totaling $17,000 in his final three months, pushing his salary to $132,000. He was also granted $60,000 in severance pay.
These raises not only inflated their pensions but also paved the way for promotions. After Eggert and Krohse left, the board promoted Hagy to fire chief and Michelle Gibson to deputy chief. Gibson, who is now in a civil union with Tri-State fire board trustee Jill Strenzel, was eventually named chief. Strenzel was on the board when the raises were approved and voted to promote her partner.
In response to the controversy, Strenzel and board president Hamilton "Bo" Gibbons defended the decisions, stating that the pay increases were "reasonable given each employee’s service" and "in the best interest of the district." However, neither would comment further.
Eggert, Krohse, and Hagy all declined to speak, citing confidentiality clauses in their separation agreements. Their pensions, based on their final salaries, have significantly increased due to the raises. For example, Eggert's pension will be $107,401 this year, compared to $91,250 without the raises. Similar increases were seen for the others.
State Rep. Jim Durkin called the situation "outrageous" and criticized the secrecy surrounding the deals, arguing that public funds should never be hidden behind confidentiality clauses.
In 2010, the Illinois Department of Insurance raised concerns about Hagy’s pension, noting that his second raise was considered a retirement incentive and shouldn’t have been included in pension calculations. However, no action was taken due to legal concerns.
Overall, the article highlights a troubling pattern of financial benefits for departing officials, raising questions about transparency and fairness in public spending.
June 29, 2025