Critics Question Salary of Part-time Illinois Fire Marshal's employee

CHICAGO (AP) -- A $73,700 salary for a part-time employee in the Illinois State Fire Marshal's office who also earns full-time wages at a suburban fire district has drawn criticism from at least two lawmakers, according to a published report.

Kenneth Wood, who makes $98,000 as a battalion chief for northwest suburban Schaumburg, works part time as a manager for the fire marshal's technical services unit in its Chicago office, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.

''There's a significant amount of salary that's being paid at taxpayers' expense, and it's unclear whether or not the time being put in is to the benefit of the taxpayers,'' said state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, chairwoman of the Senate State Government Committee.

State Rep. William Delgado, D-Chicago, acknowledged Wood might have special qualifications but said ''every Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane out there working would love to have an arrangement like this.''

Phone messages left for Wood at his home and his Schaumburg fire station Monday were not immediately returned.

The FBI and Illinois State Police are investigating possible corruption at the fire marshal's office. During the two-year investigation, three employees who were put on paid leave because of the inquiry reportedly were paid more than $347,000 for staying home from work.

State Fire Marshal J.T. Somer said Monday that Wood is not a target of the investigation and has not been accused of wrongdoing. Somer defended Wood's position, lauding the 20-year employee's expertise in training fire-prevention crews and underground storage tank inspectors.

''I really don't see where his compensation is too great for what he does,'' Somer said, adding that Wood typically works almost 40 hours a week at the fire marshal's office. He said many firefighters have second jobs that pay more than Wood's part-time job.

Illinois law does not prohibit state workers from holding multiple jobs. A spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the administration would ''look at this arrangement.''

''Since the issue has been raised, we're going to look at the hours Mr. Wood works and how he's paid to make sure the taxpayers are benefiting from his service,'' said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch. ''But we have no doubt he is a qualified and valuable asset to the fire marshal's office.''