Mayor Chris Beutler on Friday named Niles Ford, deputy fire chief in Fulton County, Georgia, as Lincoln's new fire chief. Ford will begin his new job Oct. 1.
DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2007 7:00 pm
With the occasional faint sound of fire chiefs’ scanners in crackling in the background, Mayor Chris Beutler told a roomful of reporters, fire employees and onlookers that he has selected the deputy fire chief of a Georgia county to be Lincoln’s new fire chief.
“The city’s long wait is over,” Beutler said. “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.”
Ford has been deputy fire chief — in charge of logistics, support services, safety and member services — for the Fulton County, Ga., Fire Department since 2003.
He will begin work Oct. 1 and be paid an annual salary of $113,000.
The fire chief position has been open for more than a year since former Chief Mike Spadt was asked by former Mayor Coleen Seng to resign in connection with a botched $2 million purchase of firetrucks that did not meet the city’s specifications.
Ford is currently in charge of a $36 million annual budget, information technology and logistics. He also handles human resource management, training, recruitment and development for the department’s 447 employees.Lincoln’s fire department has a $24 million budget and nearly 300 employees.
Beutler said he chose Ford because he is a fire administration professional and has an extensive educational background in fire management, personnel and human resources. He is finishing his thesis for a doctorate in organization and management, Beutler said. Beutler said he will keep the fire department budget “lean and efficient.”
“Chief Ford will be an agent of change for this department,” Beutler said.
Talent Plus, a Lincoln human resources consulting firm that was paid $180,000 by the Seng administration to assess the fire department, interviewed the finalists.
Beutler acknowledged the turbulent times fire employees have been through in recent years, with their chief being dismissed, firetruck purchase investigated by police and ambulance service losing money until recently.
“During this difficult transition, the men and women of the Lincoln Fire Department have done what they’ve always done: answered every call with pride and professionalism,” Beutler said. “Now they have an outstanding fire chief to lead them.”
And he said Ford was “very acquainted with the Lincoln situation” and “interested in the challenge” of running an entire department.
“I think he thought he was the man who could do the job,” Beutler said.
Beutler thanked Interim Fire Chief Danny Wright for taking on a tough assignment after Spadt’s dismissal.
“Every eye in the city was on him and he responded well,” Beutler said.
Wright – who has recently acknowledged being tired and ready to go back to his old job as deputy chief of training – said the rank-and-file are eager for a new leader.
Former Grant Fire Chief Rod Hutt was on the selection committee and interviewed Ford. He said Ford has experience bringing different departments together in the Atlanta area.
Beutler urged the community to get behind the new chief.
“Now it is time for this community to unite behind Chief Ford, to unite behind our fire department and put the past where it belongs: in the past. If we are to move forward, we must look forward. A city of the future cannot be chained to the controversies of the past.”
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.