During a recent meeting of the Cole County Fire Protection District Board, several personnel changes were made.
According to district reports, Donnie Braun submitted his resignation as chief. Braun was one of the original members of the Cole County Volunteer Fire Department, which was established in 1969. He had spent the past 42 years as chief. Board member and Assistant Chief Mike Rackers also submitted his resignation from the district.
The board appointed Braun to the board to fill out the term of Rackers. The board also appointed Wayne Hammann as fire chief. Hammann is a retired assistant chief with the Jefferson City Fire Department and has 45 years of service with the district.
The board also took steps to increase the board from three members to five members. Voters within the fire district will be asked in April to approve a five-member board. If that is approved, there will be an election in April 2019 to select the two additional board members.
After Hammann was appointed chief of the district, he made the following appointments to his staff:
- Deputy Chief Steve Barnes
- Senior Assistant Chief Galen Hamman supervising Stations 1 and 3
- Assistant Chief Gary Berendzen supervising Stations 2 and 7
- Assistant Chief Mike Hart supervising Stations 5 and 6
- Assistant Chief Robbie Hammann supervising Station 4 and the fire district maintenance complex.
- Capt. Jason Hammann will serve at Station 1
- Captain Shawn York will serve at Station 4
- Capt. Clayton Isenberg will serve at Station 7
- Lt. Gary Braun will serve at Station 4
- Lt. Jimmy Buechter will serve at Station 6
- Lt. Kyle Cardwell will serve at Station 7
- Lt. Jason Braun was moved from Station 4 to Station 1
District officials said they were always looking for individuals who have an interest in fire fighting and encouraged those with an interest to contact the fire district office on Monticello Road at 573-634-9011. The district also offers a cadet program for those individuals under the age of 18 who are thinking of getting into the fire service.
The district covers 220 square miles with seven fire stations in Cole, Miller and Osage counties.