RIVERDALE -- Dean Gallegos has been named the acting fire chief after the resignation of former chief Doug Illum.
Mayor Bruce Burrows said Illum submitted a resignation letter Dec. 5 with the intention to resign effective June 1. However, due to family issues, Illum upped the effective date to Jan. 23.
Illum was hired with Riverdale on July 1, 2004. Gallegos has been with the department for 14 years, Burrows said.
Official action to replace Illum is on hold while city staff and council evaluate the best option going forward, Burrows said. He said the item would likely be discussed during an executive session Feb. 7.
In other personnel news, Riverdale Police Chief Dave Hansen exercised an option to retire in place. He will continue as police chief while simultaneously collecting retirement benefits. Hansen has been employed with the city for 26 years.
Burrows said the arrangement saves the city money that would have otherwise been spent on Hansen's retirement. Instead of paying 28 percent of Hansen's retirement costs, the city will now pay only 6 percent.
"It is to our advantage to save 22 percent," Burrows said.
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