Council Not Naming an
Interim Fire Chief
ATHENS – The Athens City Council has opted not
to name an interim fire chief while searching
for a replacement for retiring Chief Danny
Southard.
By law, the council makes four appointments
pertaining to Athens: fire chief, police chief,
municipal judge and city clerk.
The
council discussed the interim chief issue during
a work session on Monday night. Council
President Jimmy Gill said the council made its
decision because members want be fair to
internal candidates.
“The council wants to look at all of those in
the department who are interested in the
position because we believe more than one
employee from Fire and Rescue plans to apply for
the job,” Gill said. “We don’t want to slight
anyone, and we don’t want to rush making an
appointment.”
Chief Southard’s last day is Jan. 31. Mayor
Ronnie Marks said Deputy Chief Bryan Thornton,
who oversees operations, Fire Prevention Chief
Tony Kirk, Fire Inspector James Hand and
Administrative Assistant Dawn Blakely will
report to him directly until the council names a
chief.
The council can open the position for internal
applications and external applications, Gill
said.
“We want to make the replacement as quick as
possible, but first we need to complete the
search for police chief,” Gill said. “We are
dealing with back-to-back chief retirements, and
once we complete the police chief search, we
will concentrate on fire chief.”
Police Chief Wayne Harper retired in December,
and Floyd Johnson, captain over investigations,
is serving as interim police chief. Gill said
Johnson was the only internal applicant. The
council has not opened the position for external
applicants at this time.
The council will meet Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the
mayor’s conference room at the temporary City
Hall at Athens Utilities on Wilkinson Street to
interview Johnson for the chief’s position. The
interview is the only business the council will
conduct, and no vote will be taken at the
meeting.
City of Athens
Press Release
Jan. 23, 2012
Holly
Hollman,
256-771-3583