By Kim McDarison
While a recruitment process to fill the position of Fort Atkinson fire chief has been underway since July, city officials remain slow to release information about the process thus far.
Responding to queries from Fort Atkinson Online, City of Fort Atkinson Public Relations Executive Assistant Sarah Weihert confirmed by email last Monday that city officials would be interviewing at least five candidates for the position on Friday. She invited our publication to send an email requesting information about the process this Monday.
Fort Atkinson Online, in the requested email, asked for information regarding the number of candidates received by the city, and whether the five that had been selected for potential interviews last Friday were semifinalists or finalists. We asked for next steps in the process.
Responding to our email on Monday, Weihert wrote: “right now, city staff and the Police and Fire Commission are still in the process of the recruitment and are not ready to release any information at this time. We will be sure to share an update when the time is right.”
Fort Atkinson Online asked for a better understanding of “time is right,” to which Weihert responded: “Right now, city staff and the Police and Fire Commission are still in the process of the recruitment and are not ready to release any information at this time.”
What we know so far
Former Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Daryl Rausch left his position in June after which the city installed Division Chief Mike Lawrence to serve as the city’s interim chief.
Prior to leaving his position, Rausch had served as the city’s fire chief for nearly seven years. Rausch, who retired from his Fort Atkinson position, told Fort Atkinson Online in June that he was later approached by officials in Otsego, Minn., and asked to serve on their city staff as its emergency services director. Describing himself as “project-driven,” Rausch said he accepted the job.
An earlier story about Rausch’s career in Fort Atkinson, and his then-future plans, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/lifes-next-station-former-fort-fire-chief-rausch-to-head-new-project-in-minnesota/.
According to information shared by City Manager Rebecca Houseman during a Fort Atkinson City Council meeting held in July, Lawrence had indicated his intention to apply for the permanent position.
She noted in July that she was unaware of any other internal candidates that might be interested in applying for the position, which, she said, had not yet been advertised.
Also during the July council meeting, council members took action to hire Illinois-based firm GovHR USA to assist the city in its search for a new chief.
The company was hired at a cost of $26,000.
During the meeting, officials said they anticipated that the recruitment process to find a replacement for Rausch would take between three and four months.
An earlier story about the hiring of the recruitment firm and initial discussions regarding the process, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-hires-recruiting-firm-for-fire-chief-search/.
During a meeting held by the Police and Fire Commission (PFC) in June, the board directed the city manger to release a request for proposals to find a recruitment firm to help the city find its next chief.
Within a document titled: “Request for Proposal for Executive Search Firm for the Recruitment and Selection of a Full-Time Fire Chief,” the scope of work to be performed by an executive search firm is outlined.
Within its request, the city asked each firm, proposing to provide services, to produce a written document, outlining costs associated with conducting an executive recruitment campaign on behalf of the city for the position of fire chief.
Under a heading of “scope of services,” the request notes that the successful firm will, among its duties, work in conjunction with the PFC and city manager, and will perform such duties as meeting with the PFC members and city manager to “ascertain the expected talent, abilities, education, and experience of the selected candidate.”
Tasks also would include reviewing and suggesting updates to the city’s existing fire chief job description. A plan to advertise, recruit and make a selection of an applicant is also among expectations. The selected firm would receive and review all resumes and applications, conduct preliminary screenings of applicants to produce a “short list” of six to 10 qualified candidates.
As stipulated in the document, selected candidates would be accompanied by a written report enumerating their strengths and weaknesses.
A next step would involve assisting the PFC and city manager in narrowing the field of candidates to 4 or 5 semifinalists that would be interviewed by the PFC and city manager.
After interacting with Weihert Monday, where in the process the city is currently remains unclear.
She confirmed last Monday that five candidates were anticipated to be interviewed by representatives of the city last Friday. While Fort Atkinson Online asked if the candidates were semifinalists or finalists, our question remained unanswered.
A final step in the process, as outlined in the document, would include assisting, by providing guidance, in the final selection of a candidate and negotiating employment terms.
The full request for proposals document is here: http://fortatkinsononline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/httpscms8.revize.comrevizefortatkinsonCOFA20FT20Fire20Chief20RFP206.1.23.pdf.
A meeting of the city’s Fire and Police Commission is set for today at 3:30 p.m.
Agenda items include: “The Police and Fire Commission may consider a motion to convene in closed session pursuant to State Stat. §19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility [review of applicants for the Fire/EMS Chief position]. The Police and Fire Commission may return to open session and may take action on the matter considered in closed session.”
According to the agenda, members of the city’s Police and Fire Commission include: Philip Jones, Jeanne Delacruz-Raub, Dick Schultz, Russell Turk and Megan Hartwick.
Fort Atkinson Municipal Building, File photo/Kim McDarison.
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