Hastings has a new fire chief, and he comes from neighboring Burnsville.
Brian Carlson, Burnsville’s assistant fire chief, accepted a conditional job offer Monday from Hastings. The city council is expected to formally approve the hiring at its March 2 meeting.
Carlson and Eagan deputy fire chief Kip Springer were the two finalists interviewed last week by the public safety committee of the city council. The committee unanimously decided on Carlson, according to Hastings City Administrator Dan Wietecha.
Other interview panels included community members, fire department staff and other city staff.
Carlson will oversee a department that has about 43 firefighters — 18 of whom are full-time — and a $4.4 million budget this year.
Mike Schutt, the former fire chief, resigned from the position in August 2019 after an investigation found he used “poor judgment” during a training session, causing damage to the Hastings Police Department roof. Schutt had been the chief since 2007.