UTFFEMT
01-19-2006, 06:56 PM
Pleasant Grove's fire chief resigns PDF | Print | E-mail
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BRENDA ARMSTRONG AND CALEB WARNOCK - North County Staff
Citing stress and lack of support, Pleasant Grove's fire chief resigned Tuesday night.
The resignation, effective immediately, was announced during the City Council meeting by Mayor Michael W. Daniels. Chief Mark Hales did not speak during the meeting, but in an interview after the meeting said he has had problems with city management for the past eight months.
"My resignation is given tonight under stress and duress," he said. "Did I want to leave? No, I didn't. But underneath the management of the city I had to step down. It was either that or lose my family, health or even my job."
Daniels said the city offered Hales, who has been chief for seven years, other opportunities, but Hales ultimately decided to resign.
"We had a mutually agreeable parting of the ways," Daniels said. "We thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his new career."
"I have had a great time serving as fire chief," Hales said. "I did resign, but there were just circumstances that made it so I couldn't stay. They don't know what they will be missing, but I do."
Hales said he still wants to be a volunteer firefighter for the city and was reluctant to comment on his resignation.
"I'm not going to say much," he said. "I'm going to be careful what I say."
When pressed for details, Hales said "I've got a great group of guys that are hard working and dedicated to the city and I guess I haven't been able to get what we really need. We need to look down the road to keep up with the fire station and staffing."
The fire department has 32 volunteer firefighters and three full-time emergency responders, said City Manager Frank Mills. The department's budget this year is $435,000.
"I think there was a myriad of things building up," Mills said of Hales resignation. "I think he had his chance to get back into selling firefighting equipment."
Hales has wanted a new fire station, which the city cannot afford, he said.
Hales began his professional career with the city's fire department 28 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle who were also firefighters. On Tuesday he said the thing he will miss most will be working with all of the great employees in the Fire and EMS departments on a daily basis.
"We have the finest group there is," he said. "Our citizens deserve the best in fire and medical service. I know this great group of fire and medical staff who gives will keep on giving."
Council members said they will recommend and consider that the director of leisure services, Deon Giles, be approved as an interim fire chief until a replacement can be found.
Giles said his role would only last 60 days and is only an "assignment." He said his job will be to make sure that administrative duties are handled until a new fire chief can be hired.
He is qualified for the role because he has been a volunteer firefighter for the city for the past 12 years, he said.
"Over the next 60 days, Deon Giles will evaluate Fire and EMS services," said Daniels. "He will then provide a written recommendation on the direction the city needs to go. This appointment should not be misconstrued. This is not a permanent appointment."
"I have been asked to carry on with the day-to-day responsibilities and help with all administrative Fire and EMS duties," said Giles. "I will be evaluating the department and getting it ready for the upcoming budget process."
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BRENDA ARMSTRONG AND CALEB WARNOCK - North County Staff
Citing stress and lack of support, Pleasant Grove's fire chief resigned Tuesday night.
The resignation, effective immediately, was announced during the City Council meeting by Mayor Michael W. Daniels. Chief Mark Hales did not speak during the meeting, but in an interview after the meeting said he has had problems with city management for the past eight months.
"My resignation is given tonight under stress and duress," he said. "Did I want to leave? No, I didn't. But underneath the management of the city I had to step down. It was either that or lose my family, health or even my job."
Daniels said the city offered Hales, who has been chief for seven years, other opportunities, but Hales ultimately decided to resign.
"We had a mutually agreeable parting of the ways," Daniels said. "We thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his new career."
"I have had a great time serving as fire chief," Hales said. "I did resign, but there were just circumstances that made it so I couldn't stay. They don't know what they will be missing, but I do."
Hales said he still wants to be a volunteer firefighter for the city and was reluctant to comment on his resignation.
"I'm not going to say much," he said. "I'm going to be careful what I say."
When pressed for details, Hales said "I've got a great group of guys that are hard working and dedicated to the city and I guess I haven't been able to get what we really need. We need to look down the road to keep up with the fire station and staffing."
The fire department has 32 volunteer firefighters and three full-time emergency responders, said City Manager Frank Mills. The department's budget this year is $435,000.
"I think there was a myriad of things building up," Mills said of Hales resignation. "I think he had his chance to get back into selling firefighting equipment."
Hales has wanted a new fire station, which the city cannot afford, he said.
Hales began his professional career with the city's fire department 28 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle who were also firefighters. On Tuesday he said the thing he will miss most will be working with all of the great employees in the Fire and EMS departments on a daily basis.
"We have the finest group there is," he said. "Our citizens deserve the best in fire and medical service. I know this great group of fire and medical staff who gives will keep on giving."
Council members said they will recommend and consider that the director of leisure services, Deon Giles, be approved as an interim fire chief until a replacement can be found.
Giles said his role would only last 60 days and is only an "assignment." He said his job will be to make sure that administrative duties are handled until a new fire chief can be hired.
He is qualified for the role because he has been a volunteer firefighter for the city for the past 12 years, he said.
"Over the next 60 days, Deon Giles will evaluate Fire and EMS services," said Daniels. "He will then provide a written recommendation on the direction the city needs to go. This appointment should not be misconstrued. This is not a permanent appointment."
"I have been asked to carry on with the day-to-day responsibilities and help with all administrative Fire and EMS duties," said Giles. "I will be evaluating the department and getting it ready for the upcoming budget process."