Chelan Fire Chief Tim Lemon to retire at the end of the year

CHELAN – Chelan Fire Chief Tim Lemon will retire at the end of 2019. On behalf of the Chelan Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners Russ Jones made the announcement during a special meeting held on Thursday morning, March 7, at the Fire Hall. Chief Lemon has spent the last 10 years, of a 40 year career serving as the Fire Chief of Chelan Fire and Rescue.

Jones also informed that the  Deputy Chief position will be discontinued for next year. “We are having to take some actions to maintain a viable budget. At a later point this year, we will begin the process of going through and selecting a new Chief,” he said. Current Deputy Chief Mark Donnell will have the opportunity to apply and test for the position clarified Jones.

Commissioner Jones and commissioner Phil Moller both voted in favor of continuing with the hiring process for an administrative assistant, while commissioner Jay Witherbee voted against it.

 “My position is that I am not in favor of moving forward now. I don’t believe that we should eliminate that position that’s not how I feel … we haven’t completed our long-range planning and apparently today we decided that our staffing models no longer includes having a Deputy Chief, we need to figure out what our priorities are,” explained Witherbee as to why he voted against it.

All the decisions the commissioners are talking about are budgetary and Witherbee insisted to delay the position because he takes the responsibility of hiring and releasing people very seriously. “I just want to look at a blank piece of paper, knowing what our revenues are and determine where the position lays in the list of priorities,” he added.

Commissioner Moller, for the most part, agreed with Witherbee on the fact it would beneficial to put the hiring process on hold. However, Moller stated that he is willing to move forward as he understands that the commissioners might make a decision down the road that will “affect somebody’s life.”

A lot of discussion needs to take place in order to figure out where the district needs to be in terms of staffing, apparatus replacement, and capital improvements. “This is not a time to launch a levy campaign … but we need to strategize for two or three years down the road,” commented Jones.

Chief Lemon ran projections up to 2023, with the current budget and staffing numbers. “Those projections are not adding anything to the bond paydown, nor include funds for capital improvement plans, which is not realistic,” said Lemon.

The Long Range Plan will help commissioners determine when and how much they will have to make an ask for. “You can’t survive without asking for additional funds from the community, it’s going be a tough one, but we need to start working on it now whether it is in 21, 22, 23,” said Jones.

By working it now Jones hopes that by the time it comes down to pushing for a levy the community will be educated on why they are asking for additional funding. The Long Range Plan meeting is scheduled for March 28 at 11:00 a.m.

The regular monthly meeting for Chelan County Fire District #7 is now held the third Wednesday of the month, at 3 p.m. at the fire station, 232 E. Wapato Avenue. The next meeting is March 20.