Garfield County Fire District makes an offer for Fire Chief

POMEROY–The Board of Commissioners for the Garfield County Fire District (GCFD) met in executive session to discuss offering the position of Fire Chief to James Cleveland, Jr. during a special meeting on June 24, 2020. A motion was made to offer him the position with the proposed employment package and an unspecified start date, which was approved unanimously.

Cleveland, currently living in Ashburnham, Mass., was invited for a visit to Pomeroy on June 17 through June 19, 2020. He and his wife visited and met with the officers and commissioners for an informal barbecue dinner at Commissioner Gary Bowles’ home. They were also taken on tours by different GCFD personnel to the mountains, to view the vintage firetrucks, to the Tucannon River area, the Pataha Flour Mill, and just around town.

The GCFD anticipated having the new Fire Chief take the position by August 1; however, Cleveland has indicated that he may not be able to make that deadline due to some COVID-19 issues he is dealing with at his present position. They are now waiting to hear back from him with an acceptance, and hopefully be able to nail down an arrival date.