Troy ManeyCLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County Fire & Rescue veteran Troy Maney will be the department's chief, succeeding Dewey Woody, who accepted a job with the state fire marshal's office last October.
In an announcement late Monday, county Mayor D. Gary Davis told the County Commission it "is now time for Bradley County Fire & Rescue to turn over a new leaf or a new page, so to speak, as we lay the foundation ... for making [it] one of the top fire departments in Tennessee."
Maney, who has served as deputy chief for the department, has more than 30 years of management experience, including personnel, payroll and accounting work, Davis said. He also assisted with the merger of the Charleston and county fire departments.
Efforts to reach Maney Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Although the commission confirmed Davis' choice in a 14-0 vote, Commissioner Ed Elkins expressed disappointment with the selection process.
"I had hoped that Mayor Davis would have some participative input into reviewing some of the resumes and what-not," Elkins said. "I don't know Mr. Maney, and I'm sure he's well qualified, but I think there were some other folks who were also qualified that applied."
Elkins said the Bradley County Fire Board was not included in the decision-making process. He serves on that board along with Louie Alford, chairman of the Bradley County Commission.
The naming of the department's new chief marks the end of the interim command duties assigned to Troy Spence, who also serves as director of the Bradley County Emergency Management Agency.
County leaders congratulated Spence for overseeing the recent addition of three new fire stations at Minnis Road, Dalton Pike and Georgetown Road. The stations went fully operational on July 1, protecting fringe county areas that had been protected through contracted service by the Cleveland Fire Department.
Spence oversaw the construction of the new stations and completed tasks begun during Woody's command, including the purchase of six firefighting vehicles and hiring of 41 people for the stations. He also implemented a permanent command structure for the department, named three battalion chiefs last December and has made efforts to boost volunteer firefighter numbers.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.