Starkville aldermen could choose its next fire department leader during a 5 p.m. recess meeting today at the Sportsplex.
The board will interview five candidates after aldermen trimmed the applicant pool down from 10 earlier this month.
Of the five original internal applicants, three moved forward in the process: Fire Marshal Stein McMullen, Battalion Chief Curtis Randle and Training Officer Charles Yarbrough.
Two external applicants — Columbus Fire and Rescue Accreditation Manager Mike Chandler and Okolona Fire Chief Terry Tucker — are also up for consideration.
The board is expected to offer a 30-minute maximum question-and-answer session per candidate.
Aldermen could appoint Starkville Fire Department’s next leader after the interview process — an agenda item for a potential hire is listed on today’s agenda — or wait until April 7’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
Chandler, 51, joined CFR in 1995 after starting his firefighting career in 1988. He was promoted to captain in 2003 and moved to his current role in 2012.
McMullen, 40, joined SFD as a firefighter in 1996 and was later promoted to fire inspector. In 2005, he moved into one of the city’s two fire marshal positions.
Randle, a 25-year SFD veteran, serves as one of the department’s three battalion chiefs.
Tucker, 53, has served as Okolona’s fire chief for eight years. He joined Amory’s fire department in 1982 and became a certified EMT in 1984. Tucker also serves as Monroe County’s fire coordinator and Miss. Fire Chiefs Association president.
Yarbrough, 43, joined SFD as a firefighter in 1995. He was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant shortly after but decided to pursue an administrative career through training and educational efforts. He was named training officer in 2008.
Another Starkville firefighter, Capt. Andy Sharp, was denied an opportunity to interview with the board after Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn took issue with the timeliness of his application. Personnel Director Randy Boyd said Sharp submitted an application with limited information before the process’ closing date. A completed application was delivered to Boyd after the deadline.
Starkville denied a Freedom of Information Act request made by The Dispatch for candidates’ applications and has not provided information about their backgrounds.
Former fire Chief Rodger Mann retired in February after a 30-plus firefighting career.
In other business, the board will consider a $1,500 quote to construct an Americans with Disability Act-compliant sidewalk that will access Fire Station No. 1’s park at the southwest corner of the intersection at Russell and Lampkin streets.
Aldermen previously agreed to a memorandum of understanding that will allow the Greater Starkville Development Partnership to move the Starkville Community Market to the location.
Under the agreement, the Partnership takes over oversight, maintenance and liability of the under-utilized public greenspace.
Moving the market to the new location, market managers previously said, will increase its capacity and allow the Partnership to seek grant funding for further investments.
Business owners within the Russell Street wrote letters supporting the move and offered nearby commercial parking spaces for future patrons.
Aldermen are also expected to approve a Miss. Department of Environmental Quality grant application for $25,000 that, if secured in the future, would help move the city’s roughly 1,300 recycling program participants from green bags to a two-wheeled cart.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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