Bostic new city fire chief, Sackmann named assistant

One of the Ritzville City Council’s final acts of 2013 was to approve the appointment of Jim Bostic as the new fire chief for the Ritzville Volunteer Fire Department.

The new chief’s service begin on Jan. 1, 2014. He replaces Andy Lefevre.

Tuesday Bostic attended the first council meeting of the New Year to present a report on behalf of the fire department.

Mayor Linda Kadlec has added the fire department to the list of city departments that regularly provide the city council with updates during its meeting.

Bostic thanked the council for the appointment.

He notified the panel that new state laws require the fire department to make some changes in its policies and procedures. Among them is a state requirement to have a fire safety officer at the scene of fires, as an additional safety precaution.

Bostic reported that Lefevre has agreed to fill the position and will receive special training for the role.

Bostic also announced the fire department’s membership had approved the promotion of Bill Banner to captain.

Tuesday, Bostic presented Dennis Sackmann as his choice for assistant fire chief, a decision supported by the mayor.

With a motion from Scott Yaeger and a second by Mike Schrag, the appointment was unanimously approved.

The city contracts with the fire chief and assistant fire chief will be reviewed this year.

City Clerk/Treasurer Kris Robbins said the contracts need to be revised to bring them in line with current Ritzville city code.

She said the contracts have not been updated since 1937.

Bostic informed the council, in response to a request from the mayor and city clerk, that a comprehensive inventory of city equipment is being done from scratch.

The new fire chief said containers stored in the old fire station have items dating back to the 1950s.

According to Bostic, he plans to help find additional funding to support the city’s fire department.

“I’m a grant writer,” he said. “I have successfully written grants for the hospital district and the ambulance association. I’m looking to do more of that.”

Bostic said his pursuit of grants for the fire department will be a volunteer effort on his part.