Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information regarding the chief’s salary and other conditions of employment with the city of Fort Atkinson.
By Kim McDarison
Bruce Peterson, a fire chief in Johnson Creek, will be serving as the Fort Atkinson Fire and EMS chief, according to information released Friday by Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman.
Peterson is described as having more than 30 years of firefighting, EMS and emergency management experience, within the release.
A day on which Peterson will begin his service with the city of Fort Atkinson has yet to be determined, Fort Atkinson Public Relations Executive Assistant Sarah Weihert wrote in a followup email.
Within the city manager’s statement to the press, Peterson was described as having a bachelor’s degree in the field of fire service management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and an associate degree in applied science in fire service technology earned at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Ill.
Professionally, Peterson has served as a career firefighter and paramedic, and a fire lieutenant with the village of Barrington, Ill., serving between 2007 and 2014. He next served as the assistant chief, and, between 2020 and 2023, served as the acting fire marshal, the release stated.
Peterson has held the position of fire chief in Johnson Creek since March of 2023.
The release noted that Fort Atkinson Division Chief Mike Lawrence has been serving as interim fire chief in the city since June of 2023. His appointment followed the retirement of chief Daryl Rausch.
Within the release, Houseman said: “When developing the job advertisement, interview process, and candidate questions, we surveyed members of the (Fort Atkinson Fire) department and asked them to identify key attributes and skills needed in the next fire chief.
“I am confident that we have selected a candidate that possesses those skills discussed by our fire/EMS personnel and one that is committed to building on the high standards of professionalism and service to the community our citizens have come to expect from the Fort Atkinson Fire Department.”
Houseman expressed appreciation to Lawrence for his service in the interim role.
Addressing the selection process, Houseman, within the release, said: “The Fort Atkinson Police and Fire Commission has worked diligently and carefully to interview interested and qualified candidates to fill the position of Fire/EMS chief for the city of Fort Atkinson.”
Earlier stories about the hiring process are here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/city-manager-poised-to-make-offer-to-fire-chief-candidate/, here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-city-officials-not-ready-to-release-any-information-regarding-five-applicants-identified-recently-for-fire-chief-position/, and here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-hires-recruiting-firm-for-fire-chief-search/.
A process through which council members will be introduced to the new chief is still being decided, Weihert noted in a followup interview.
Fort Atkinson Online has requested information regarding the chief’s salary and other conditions of employment with the city.
Conditions of employment
Information released by Houseman to Fort Atkinson Online Friday, Feb. 9, noted that a start date for the new chief “is still being negotiated.”
Peterson will begin his employment with the city at a starting annual salary of $102,000, which, according to the city’s offer letter, will increase to $104,736 annually after 18 months of employment, pending a satisfactory performance review.
The adjustment does not include cost of living increases provided annually to all full-time city employees, the letter noted.
The new chief also will be afforded 100 hours of vacation for use this year, and 125 hours for use each year thereafter. Peterson also will be afforded 40 hours of compensatory time annually, and five sick days.
According to the document, as a condition of employment, the chief will be required to live within 15 miles of the city of Fort Atkinson.
The letter stated: “The city’s preference is that you live within the city’s Fire/EMS service area, however, we understand that current circumstances are not conducive to that.”
Would the chief one day choose to move, the document states that the city “may” require that he live within the Fire/EMS service area.
The city has a marked command vehicle for the chief’s use when traveling to and from work, the letter read, but, it continued, “due to the location of your current residence, this vehicle will need to be unmarked in order to be used in this manner.”
The offer letter was signed by both parties — the city manager and Peterson — on Feb. 1.
This story has been updated.
Bruce Peterson
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