The Palm Coast Fire Department on Wednesday promoted Capt. Gary Potter to battalion chief, succeeding Mark Valentik, who retired after 25 years of service, and Lt. James Neuenfeldt to captain.
The promotions were part of a series of promotions and new hires affecting the $9 million fire department–the largest single-expenditure out of the city’s general budget. The fire department employs 58 people under Chief Jerry Forte–two more than the next-largest department in the general fund (the streets division. The utility department actually employs the most people, 143, but it’s funded separately, through billing).
Other notable promotions Wednesday included driver engineers Michael Chandley and Nikolay Kulev, who were promoted to lieutenant.