The Anoka-Champlin Fire Department hopes the third time’s the charm.
After soliciting a third round of applications, the Fire Board is preparing to interview finalists for the position of fire chief in early February.
Nearly a year and a half has passed since the departure of former Chief Charlie Thompson, who held the position almost 15 years and now leads the Columbia Heights Fire Department. Anoka-Champlin has struggled to find the right candidate to replace him.
Richard Kline, a retired Plymouth fire chief, continues to serve as interim chief to help with the selection and transition process. Kline, who started the interim position July 13, 2020, originally signed a contract to serve through the end of October 2020 at $55 an hour. He later agreed to stay on until the end of February, despite the fact that he is out of state for the season and must work remotely and return periodically.