NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — South Hutchinson City Administrator Joseph Turner confirmed to Hutch Post that Fire Chief Shae Barajas-Brooks will not be retained. There is still going to be a South Hutch Fire Department. It is not going away.
"The only conversation we've had has been the replacement with a new chief," Turner said. "I'm not sure exactly where or why those rumors were circulated, but they are just ignorant. It's not true."
The only change expected is in leadership.
"The governing body has decided they want to go into a different direction on this position," Turner said. "None of these positions even have contracts. No one's getting rid of any assistant chiefs or anything like that. Obviously, it's a volunteer department. The only change that is being made is at the chief position."
Turner said a potential new chief does not necessarily need to live in town, but prompt response is obviously important.
"The governing body is going to want to see an individual who has some firefighting experience and has operations experience," Turner said. "We believe that is very important. The city of South Hutchinson has some unique commercial assets that we feel need to be protected and ensure that our economic vitality remains in place. We, obviously, could be crippled by some serious fires in our community, depending on where they hit."
There was a roof fire at the Tyson plant in South Hutchinson in December. Hutch Post reached out to Barajas-Brooks for comment and did not receive a response.
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