The search for a full-time fire chief for the Wellington North fire service garnered 33 applications.
Mayor Ray Tout said the number of resumes for the position to head up the recently- amalgamated fire service with stations in Arthur and Mount Forest, is an indication of interest in the service and the township.
Council originally considered hiring a fire chief on a contract basis before deciding to fill the post with a full-time chief.
A committee has been established to make the final decision on the hiring. The committee includes fire committee chairman councillor Mark Goetz, councillor Dan Yake and township chief executive officer Lori Heinbuch.
The position will pay between $55,000 and $75,000 annually. A new chief will be hired early in 2013.
In a related matter, several firefighters attended the Dec. 17 council meeting and were presented with long service awards. The firefighters also displayed the service’s newly- created shoulder patches.
Receiving awards for 20 years of service were deputy fire chief Bill Hieber, captain Ed White and firefighters Mike Koehler and Steve Truax, all from the Mount Forest department. Chief Ron MacEachern assisted with handing out the long service certificates.
Chief Jim Morrison, Arthur department, also received a long service award and a certificate as a certified municipal manager III fire service.
