Manhattan Fire Trustees Extend Chief Contracts Through 2029

Chief Steve Malone
Manhattan Fire Protection District Meeting | Dec. 15, 2025
Article Summary: The Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees voted to extend the contracts of both the Fire Chief and Deputy Chief for an additional year, securing leadership through early 2029.
Leadership Contracts Key Points:
-
Chief Steve Malone and Deputy Chief Dave Piper both received contract extensions until Jan. 1, 2029.
-
Both contracts include a 3% salary increase.
-
The Deputy Chief’s contract was updated to mirror the Chief’s regarding “115 trust contributions.”
The Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees on Monday, Dec. 15, approved contract extensions for the district’s top two administrators, securing their leadership positions for the next four years.

Deputy Chief David Piper
The board voted unanimously to extend the contracts of Fire Chief Steve Malone and Deputy Chief Dave Piper. Both agreements were extended an additional year, now running through Jan. 1, 2029. Under the terms approved by the board, both Malone and Piper will receive a 3% salary increase.
During the discussion regarding Deputy Chief Piper’s contract, it was noted that a section of the agreement had been updated to mirror the Chief’s contract specifically to include “115 trust contributions.”
The motion to approve Chief Malone’s contract was made by Trustee Bill Weber and seconded by Trustee Brian Hupe. The motion for Deputy Chief Piper’s extension was made by Hupe and seconded by Trustee Nick Kotchou.
Latest News Stories
Will County Public Works: Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Expands to All 24 Townships, Eliminating Borders
Suspect Captured in Execution-Style Murder of Momence Bar Owner
Jackson Township Board Approves Tax Levies Amid Rising Property Values
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages
Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map
Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling
700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says
New York, New Jersey sue feds over Hudson Tunnel funding cuts
Parents sound alarm over Illinois high school voter registration bill
Illinois Quick Hits: Violent Crime down, arrest rates up in Chicago