Public invited to Monday’s open interview session
The citizens of New Carlisle will have a unique opportunity on Monday, November 16th when the city brings the three finalists for Chief of the fire department to the regular council meeting. City Manager Randy Bridge announced last week that the finalists will be available at an open interview at the end of the council business portion of the meeting. Residents will be able to ask questions of the candidates.
Two of the finalists announced by Bridge have ties to the City of New Carlisle Fire and EMS services. They either are serving or have served the department. Former Chief Tracy Young was identified as one of the top three candidates at the meeting, however he has since removed his name as a candidate. Mr. Young cited his recent increase in responsibilities at Wright Patterson Air Force Base for removal of his application from the mix. Mr. Bridge contacted the New Carlisle News and named Joe Stalder as the third candidate who will be publicly interviewed on the 16th.
Ron Grout is a resident of New Carlisle who has been a fire fighter and paramedic. He began his interest in serving on a fire department when he graduated from high school in the early 80’s. Mr. Grout spent 13 years as the Executive Director of the State of Ohio Medical Transportation Board. This state board is responsible for all air and ground based medical transportation systems. From Care Flight, the mobile ICU for hospitals to the ambulance that transports patients to the hospital and between nursing centers, this is the oversight board.
Grout served the New Carlisle Fire Department from 1980-2010 when a family situation developed that required his complete attention. From 2003-2010 Grout served the department as chief. When he came to the leadership post, the department was in a state of fiscal emergency. With the support of his crew, Grout states that the poor response times were addressed, the equipment was replaced thanks to the generosity of the taxpayers who passed levies and the department got back on track serving the community.
During his time as Chief, Grout also worked with the Elizabeth Township Board of Trustees to create the contract that is still in place for services.
Mr. Grout returned to the department for a brief 121 days as interim chief prior to the hiring of Tracy Young by the city in 2011.
Currently Grout is an on call member of the department and has taken the necessary certification testing to return to a paid on call position. He returned to the department about two months ago and was approved by City Manager Bridge.
Steve Trusty is currently serving the New Carlisle Fire Department as a Lieutenant and Inspector. He joined the department three years ago and is an on call member as well as a part time paid part of the department staffing.
Mr. Trusty also came to fire fighting as so many do as a young high school student. At age 17 Trusty loved working in the late 1970’s. He has always felt that the New Carlisle department is like a family and wants to see it grow to what he believes it can be moving forward.
Trusty spent 35 years as an Inspector at in the Wright Patterson AFB department which is above the rank of Captain. He spent the last seven years of his career in inspection and investigation. He has 34 years of experience as a fire fighter and EMT.
He currently serves New Carlisle as an on call member and a part time paid person. The family ties to the department include his son Larry who is also a fire fighter and EMT for the department. Mr. Trusty lives just 15 minutes from the city in Huber Heights.
The final candidate has no ties to the City of New Carlisle department. Joe Stalder submitted his letter of interest to the city in early October. Mr. Stalder began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Moorefield Township in late 1968. At the time he was also a co-owner of his family business Stalder’s Cafeteria and Catering.
Stalder served the township department as a Fire Chief beginning in mid 1990. He has been a member of the Clark County Arson Task Force, Fire Inspector and a member of the Clark County Hazardous Material Response Team. He is currently an instructor at Clark State.
During his career Mr. Stalder was employed by the State Fire Marshal as an underground inspector. From 1997 – 2012 he was an employee of Navistar in the Fire and Security Supervisor office. Stalder notes in his letter that he has applied for the position as chief in New Carlisle previously.
The New Carlisle Council will hold their regular meeting at 7 pm on Monday, November 16 at the Smith Park Shelter House. The fire chief candidates will be presented following the regular business portion.
