Lincoln's chief, Niles Ford, is now one of four finalists to be the next fire chief in Austin, Texas.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 7:00 pm
Lincoln’s chief, Niles Ford, is now one of four finalists to be the next fire chief in Austin, Texas.
The Austin American-Statesman reported the news Friday.
Ford and six other candidates were interviewed in Austin last week.
Austin hopes to name the new chief by Nov. 1.
Lincoln mayoral aide Rick Hoppe said last week that Mayor Chris Beutler was aware Ford is a candidate for the job.
“Chief Ford is an outstanding fire chief,” Hoppe said. “It’s not a stretch to think other fire departments would want him to be their fire chief.
“We hope he stays in Lincoln because he’s done a great job here.”
Ford was hired Aug. 24, 2007, following the resignation of Chief Mike Spadt, who was asked to step down because of his role in the purchase of $2 million worth of fire trucks that did not meet city specifications.
Ford, who has more than 17 years of fire and public safety experience, was one of 18 applicants for Lincoln’s opening. He came here after four years in the Fulton County, Ga., Fire Department near Atlanta, where he was a deputy fire chief. He had not been chief of a department prior to becoming Lincoln’s.
“The city’s long wait is over,” Beutler said in announcing Ford’s hiring. “The trauma that the fire department has been experiencing is over, and we’re going to move ahead to a new era under the leadership of Mr. Niles Ford.”
According to the American-Statesman, the finalists were selected from 38 applicants.
Ford is in charge of a $24 million fire department budget in Lincoln. The Austin Fire Department, according to the American-Statesman, has about 1,100 members, 44 fire stations and a budget of $127 million.
Ford began his job in Lincoln on Oct. 1, 2007, earning an annual salary of $113,000. According to the Fresno (Calif.) Bee, the former Austin fire chief had an annual salary of about $150,000.
“We assume the range will be around there although the salary is still negotiable,” Austin spokeswoman Leslie Schneiweiss told the Bee, which reported on a candidate from that city.