Muncie Mayor-Elect Selects Fire Department Leadership And Board Of Works Members

Muncie’s mayor-elect has chosen who will lead the Muncie Fire Department when his administration takes the city reigns in January.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Come January, Muncie Fire Department will be led by now-Chief Inspector David Miller.

Miller has been a firefighter in Muncie for 34 years, both in the field and as an investigator.  Muncie Mayor-Elect Dan Ridenour says Miller’s experience will be valuable to the department.

Exiting Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler was a career firefighter and recently began running city ambulance service out of local fire houses, which created a very public fight with the county over local emergency services.

At a Friday afternoon press conference, Miller says he isn’t sure yet if anything needs to be changed in the fire department yet.

“We’re going to have to look into everything with a fresh set of eyes.  I don’t think anything is going to be set in stone.”

Miller will be joined by a new deputy chief, Alan Richards.  Richards, who is currently stationed at the downtown fire station, has been with the department for 25 years.

Ridenour also made his appointments to the Muncie Board of Public Works, which has authority over police and fire matters in the city.

Next year, the Muncie Board of Works will be made up of former Democratic city council member Linda Gregory, construction company owner Jerry Wise, and Innovation Connector executive director Ted Baker.

Ridenour says he wanted members with experience in city government and business and someone “willing to ask questions.”