DAYTON, Tenn. — Seven people have applied for the position of Dayton fire chief, with one application coming from as far away as Mississippi, city records show.
The applications include Earl “Bo” Kaylor, the city’s assistant fire chief, and Charles “Chuck” Kinney, Rhea County’s assistant fire chief and arson investigator. Several former Dayton firefighters also applied, as well as two fire captains at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak, Ridge, Tenn.
City Manager Frank Welch said the city will continue taking applications until the position is filled. He said there is no timetable for hiring.
“I’m going to do it in a timely manner,” Mr. Welch said. “The main point is getting the right person for the job, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Former fire chief Jack Arnold retired a month ago after a report came out from the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory service criticizing the fire department. The report cited instances of the fire chief sleeping on the job and firefighters deceiving ISO inspectors during a 2001 inspection.
Mayor Bob Vincent said this week most of the applicants have been interviewed and discussions were occurring about the best possible chief.
“I think it’s likely we’ll have someone by the end of this week,” he said.
He said City Council members want a fire chief with “considerable experience (who) can hit the ground running.”
Councilman John Heath said money also will play a role in the decision. The city wants the “right man or woman for the job” but city coffers can only stretch so far, he said.
“We’re a small town,” Mr. Heath said. “We couldn’t hire the assistant fire chief from Chattanooga. We couldn’t afford them.”
FIRE CHIEF HOPEFULS
* James L. Aslinger, Sale Creek, Y-12 National Security Complex fire captain
* John S. Jones, Soddy-Daisy, Y-12 fire captain
* Earl Dean “Bo” Kaylor, assistant Dayton fire chief
* Charles “Chuck” Kinney Jr., Rhea County assistant fire chief and arson investigator
* David W. Krzyzkowski, Hernando, Miss., member of Northwest Mississippi Regional Response Team
* Dean Moses, Soddy-Daisy, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department deputy
* Earl “Tony” Reavley, Sale Creek, chief of field services for Hamilton County Emergency Services
Source: Dayton city records
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