Hagenson appointment as next Stanley Fire Chief approved

“As of last Tuesday afternoon, Ron Zais and his attorney dropped all grievances against the City and the mayor,” current Stanley Mayor Norm Christianson announced at the Monday February 3rd meeting of the Stanley Common Council, held down at the Fire Hall. The City of Stanley had been notified of the new developments by its law firm Weld Riley. At the same time, Weld Riley advised that somebody else should be appointed as the new Fire Chief, and as it turned out, that someone is a familiar face: former assistant fire chief Korey Hagenson. Hagenson was approved in due course at Monday’s coun- cil meeting as the new city fire head, along with Bill Chwala as city building inspector. First, however, there was an ordinance check to make.

“Excuse me, Mayor. If I’m not mistaken, I think the fire chief does have to be approved,” outgoing Third Ward Alderman Lance Johnson spoke up loudly when the Council appeared ready to move on from asking questions about the matter. Listed as agenda item number seven on the Monday schedule was “Mayor’s appointment of Korey Hagenson as Fire Chief,” along with item number eight, “Mayor’s appointment of William Chwala as Building Inspector.” Christianson at first sought approval of the fire chief appointment from the Council, even as it appeared that many members would have the Mayor appoint a new fire chief without a formal vote.

“That’s your prerogative,” Alderman Kent Barby said in response to the Mayor seeking approval from the council for the appointment of a new fire chief, with Christianson appearing to question the details after Council member’s input that seemed inclined to waive oversight.

As it turned out on a quick ordinance check by the Clerk-Treasurer Cynthianna Bergman, however, Alderman Johnson had been correct in his assertion that the Council needed to approve the Mayor’s appointment of a new fire chief, and a unanimous roll call vote following made the move official. Jesse Frey made the necessary motion, with a second by Alderwoman Laurie Foster. Before the roll call vote, however, there were questions to ask.

“I just have a question for Ron,” Barby said of interim fire chief Ron Patten. “How is it going? Are things ready to pass off?” Patten replied that they were, although the ladder truck will need updating this summer. Additionally, Patten said he was ready to help during a brief transition period of a few months as Hagenson settled into his new position, being available to answer questions and offer assistance as needed. For his own part, Hagenson said that he wanted to rebuild the chain of command within the Stanley Fire Department, even as he had ideas for who to make the assistant fire chief, and other department positions.

“I want to put more guys through officer’s training,” Hagenson said to the council, while First Ward Alderman Jesse Frey had comments of his own on the Mayor’s choice of a new chief. “I’ll say that I think the mayor’s appointment is a good one,” he offered. Among the reasons for Hagenson’s appointment to the post of fire chief, Christianson cited his long experience (nine years) as a firefighter, as well as a long connection with and to the area.

Moving on from Korey Hagenson’s appointment as the new fire chief, the council next approved Bill Chwala as building inspector, the motion being made by Alderman Jacob Huff and seconded by Foster. It was later stated by someone that Zais’ fall had come from failing to meet the necessary state requirements, even as he had done good things in other ways for the City.