The final two Homewood Fire Department vacancies were officially filled at the village board’s Feb. 11 meeting.
Rafael Reyes and Stephen Nolan took the oath of office to become full-time firefighters and paramedics with the department.
Nolan is from Orland Park and attended Sandburg High School. He has an associate’s degree from Moraine Valley College in fire service operation. He previously worked part time for Homewood, Chicago Ridge and Plainfield.
Nolan also worked full time for the Tri-State Fire Protection district in 2019.
Reyes is from Aurora and graduated from Aurora Catholic Central High School. He completed emergency medical technician and basic firefighter training before taking paramedic school at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva.
Reyes worked part time for Homewood in 2017 before taking a full-time job in Memphis, Tennessee.
“Both of these guys returning to Homewood says a lot for our town and our department,” Chief Bob Grabowski said. “We’re glad that they’re back.”
The hires complete a round of hiring for emergency personnel in Homewood through the first two months of 2020.
Three firefighters and two police officers were sworn in on Jan. 14 and two others took the oath on Jan. 28.
The board also honored former public works Engineering Project Coordinator Don Anderson in his retirement. Anderson worked for the village for 18 years.
“I think I can speak for all of public works that Don, it’s been a great pleasure to work with you and to have you as a great friend,” said Public Works Director John Schaefer. “You will be truly missed.”
Brian Hankey was sworn in to replace Anderson last month.
A bid for a sanitary sewer lining project was awarded to Performance Pipelining, Inc. of Ottawa, Illinois, for $291,980. The work includes 3,520 feet of 8-inch pipe, 800 feet of 10-inch pipe and connections and t-liner.