The city of Prior Lake has hired current paid-on-call Fire Chief Doug Hartman as its new full-time fire chief.

The announcement was made late Thursday. Hartman has been with the department for 19 years, the last three years as the paid-on-call chief. This is the first time the city has hired a full-time fire chief.

The 2010 budget includes enough money to hire a full-time chief to oversee the city’s paid on-call volunteer fire department. City leaders originally budgeted for the position for 2009 but delayed the hiring by one year due to budget cuts. Salary and benefits for the fire chief position are estimated at $112,000.

As the new full-time chief, Hartman will be responsible for 24-hour fire emergency response for about 24,000 residents and 11,000 homes within Prior Lake, along with about 21,000 citizens in Credit River and Spring Lake Townships, and he will look after the city’s two fire stations and their equipment.

Hartman also will oversee the training and management of 40 volunteer firefighters.

City Manager Frank Boyles said he chose Hartman over nine other finalists, from an initial pool of nearly 50 applicants.

“The experience and expertise that Doug brings made him the perfect choice for the position, even when compared to full-time and volunteer chiefs who applied from around the nation,” Boyles said.
“Within one year, I expect Doug to lead several significant improvements to our department.”

– Lori Carlson