Jefferson City's search for a new fire chief is expected to be a more open hiring process than the city has previously engaged in, or at least that's the expressed hope of the city administrator.
City Administrator Steve Crowell has repeatedly stated his desire to see the hiring process be as open as possible and allow for public engagement with the chosen selection committee and, possibly, the applicants themselves.
The city's internal search for a new fire chief has yielded nine applicants, though city officials have declined to name the applicants at this time.
The fire chief position has been vacant since former Chief Bob Rennick retired in March 2013. It has been filled on an interim basis with Jason Turner, the division chief of prevention and public information.
The city began accepting applications from current city employees on May 15 and the application period ended May 29. The city's posting changed the previous job description for fire chief from requiring a bachelor's degree. The job had previously required a bachelor's degree in fire science, emergency management or a related field, but the updated description stated "significant experience and training in a chief officer role may be substituted for the accredited bachelor's degree, although preference may be given to candidates with a degree." Language stating a master's degree was preferred also was eliminated from the description.
Crowell selected an eight-member committee to review and interview applicants, and make a recommendation to Crowell, who will then make a recommendation to the mayor and City Council. Those on the committee are:
- Former Councilman Dan Klindt;
- Former Councilman Mike Harvey;
- Former Councilman Bob Weber;
- Arthur Brown, Jefferson City resident;
- Mitch Randels, Joplin fire chief;
- Scott Spencer, Jefferson City Fire Department union representative;
- Lonnie Brandt, Jefferson City Fire Department assistant chief; and
- Margrace Buckler, human resources director for Columbia.
Gail Strope, human resources director, said the committee will begin meeting next week. Crowell has said he wants the process to be as open as possible, including open committee meetings and having applicants meet with the committee in the public's view. When asked if he thought the first committee meeting would be open or closed, Crowell said it will be an open meeting.
"My expectation is those meetings would be in the public," Crowell said.
Strope said the meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, but no agenda has been set yet. She said once the committee meets and establishes the process for making a recommendation, they would establish a plan for releasing the names of the applicants.
Correction: The original version of this article should have stated that the job had previously required a bachelor's degree in fire science, emergency management or a related field. The above text has since been corrected to reflect that.