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Three interviewing for Suamico fire chief

By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer


SUAMICO – Three candidates remain in the running for the village’s full-time fire chief position after one of the four finalists pulled out of consideration, said Village Administrator Alex Kaker.

The village’s Fire Commission last month narrowed the field of 15 applicants to four finalists to interview Jan. 9-10.

Kaker said Brent Foss, whose background includes being an assistant fire chief with DeForest Windsor Fire and EMS and a fire instructor at Madison Area Technical College, withdrew his name without giving a reason.

“We still have three strong candidates who will be interviewing… with the Fire Commission with the candidate (who the commission wants to hire as chief pending a background check) tentatively being selected on Friday afternoon,” Kaker said.

He said the remaining three finalists will be interviewed by the Fire Commission the morning of Jan. 10 after being on hand Jan. 9 for a meet and greet at the municipal services center.

They include:

• Joe Bertler – battalion chief, Bellevue Fire Department; lead fire inspector, Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety; and assistant fire chief, Suamico Fire Department.

• Lance Homann – administrative captain/training officer, Evans Fire Protection District (Colorado).

• Marvin Roderick – fire captain/hazardous materials officer, City of Peoria, Illinois, Fire Department; and field instructor, Illinois Fire Service Institute, Champaign, Illinois.

The village is in the process of switching from a part-time to a full-time fire chief, as recommended by a staffing committee, to meet future personnel needs for the fire department.

Plans are also in the works to build a new Fire Station No. 1.

The current part-time chief, Troy Noe, did not pursue the full-time position.

Noe is continuing to serve as the village fire chief until a new full-time chief is hired.

He has expressed interest in remaining with the fire department wherever the new chief would decide is best.

A consulting firm the village hired to help select a full-time chief, Public Administration Associates, has been working with the Fire Commission.

The position was posted with a salary range for a full-time chief from $70,000 to $75,000 per year, depending upon qualifications and experience, along with a fringe benefit package.

Kaker said the new chief could possibly begin the position next month.

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