The City of Black River Falls has re-opened the hiring process for a new Fire Chief.  While reviewing proposed changes to fire inspection intervals and other additions to the Fire Department ordinance, a conflict was discovered between the hiring procedures outlined in the City of Black River Falls Employee Handbook and the provisions set forth in Chapter 5 of the City’s Code of Ordinances regarding the appointment of a Fire Chief. Specifically, while the Employee Handbook lists the Fire Chief as a department head and grants the City’s Hiring Committee authority to select department heads and set their salaries, Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances requires a different process for hiring a Fire Chief. According to the ordinance, the Mayor must appoint a committee comprised of the City’s Hiring Committee, the Rural Fire Board Chairperson, one member of the Rural Fire Board, and one member of the Black River Falls Fire Department. This committee is responsible for screening and interviewing candidates and providing recommendations to both the Common Council and the Rural Fire Board, who jointly hold the authority to make the final hiring decision.

In light of this discrepancy, the conditional offer of employment that had been accepted by Hixton Fire Chief Tom Davidson on May 14^th was considered void, as the City’s Hiring Committee did not have the authority to extend this offer under the applicable ordinance. 

Mayor Jay Eddy immediately initiated the hiring process to appoint a Fire Chief in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances by appointing a committee comprised of the City’s Hiring Committee, the Rural Fire Board Chairperson, the Rural Fire Board Vice-Chair, and the First Assistant Chief of the Black River Falls Fire Department. This committee will be responsible for screening and interviewing candidates and providing recommendations to both the Common Council and the Rural Fire Board.  The newly appointed Hiring Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 22, 2025 to discuss the next steps in selecting a new Fire Chief for the Black River Falls Fire Department.