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Bellevue battalion chief Bertler favored for Suamico

By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer


SUAMICO – A battalion chief in Bellevue is the preferred candidate to become Suamico’s full-time fire chief.

Joe Bertler was selected after being one of two finalists the Fire Commission interviewed last week for the position, Village Administrator Alex Kaker confirmed in response to an open records request from The Press Times.

Kaker said Bertler’s hiring to the full-time position will be finalized upon successful completion of a background check and physical along with negotiating a contract.

Joe Bertler, battalion chief for the Bellevue Fire Department, speaks Thursday, Jan. 9, during a question-and-answer session at the Suamcio village hall, where he met with members of the Fire Commission, village board and fire department as one of two finalists interviewed for Suamico’s full-time fire chief position.

In addition to his current position with the Bellevue Fire-Rescue Department, Bertler’s background also includes experience as the lead fire inspector for the Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety and being an assistant fire chief for the Suamico Fire Department.

Lance Homann, an administrative captain/training officer with the Evans Fire Protection District in Colorado, also interviewed for the Suamico job.

Kaker said a third finalist, Marvin Roderick, a fire captain/hazardous materials officer from the fire department in Peoria, Illinois, withdrew his name from consideration prior to the interviews.

The final selection process Bertler and Homann participated in spanned two days.

Both finalists spoke Thursday, Jan. 9, during a meet-and-greet session.

They answered questions for about an hour each in an open forum with members of the Fire Commission, village board and Suamico firefighters.

Bertler and Homann responded to similar questions when they were asked separately about a variety of issues, such as leadership style, communicating with staff, training, recruiting on-call firefighters for the department, etc.

Homann, who noted he has lived in Colorado since 1986 and has parents who live in central Ohio, said he was interested in becoming Suamico’s fire chief because he is looking for a position closer to his parents in a place where he would want to live.

Bertler, who alluded to the fire chief’s job also being responsible for training the next chief, said he has a passion for the fire department and the community, and would be interested in staying in the position for around 10 years.

“I can’t say this is the pinnacle of my career – I don’t know – but I would say 10 years,” he said. “I can’t say I’ll be here until I’m 65. But would I like to be? Sure. But I realize things change. If I become stagnant and don’t grow, then you’ll be looking for a new leader. So, my job is to grow and grow this department.”

Interviews and tests for each candidate took place Friday, Jan. 10, when the Fire Commission decided it preferred hiring Bertler for fire chief.

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

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

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

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