The Manhattan Fire Protection District board unanimously recommended Mike Shivers to fill a vacant trustee position left by the recent death of Trustee Bill Osborne.

Shivers, a former Peotone Fire Protection District board trustee who also served as a firefighter, was recommended during Monday’s board meeting as part of the district’s consolidation agreement to incorporate Peotone residents and board members.

“The agreement with the consolidation was to incorporate Peotone residents/Board members,” according to the meeting minutes. “Mike Shivers was a previous Peotone FPD Board Trustee and served as a Firefighter and is recommended to fill this vacant position.”

The recommendation passed on a unanimous roll call vote by the six current trustees: Bill Moncrief, Nick Kotchou (participating via Zoom), Larry Goodwin, Bill Weber, Bob Davis, and Brian Hupe.

The board appointment reflects the district’s commitment to maintaining representation from both Manhattan and Peotone communities following the consolidation of the two fire protection districts.

Osborne’s passing created the vacancy on the seven-member board, which oversees operations for the district serving both Manhattan and Peotone areas.