The Artesia City Council was set to hire a new Fire Chief Tuesday night. Mayor Phil Burch(pictured) had recommended that the council hire Kevin Hope to replace the retired J.D. Hummingbird. Hope had been with AFD for a number of years before becoming County Fire Marshal a few months ago. The vote to hire Hope was 4-3 and Mayor Burch says when it comes to hiring five votes are needed and one councilor was out sick.