West Carrollton is rehiring its retiring fire chief.
Chris Barnett, who is set to retire Friday, will be taken off payroll at the end of this week and return to it Monday as a special employee, according to the city. West Carrollton City Council has approved retaining Barnett, who has served as fire chief since 2013, to continue to lead the department. Next week, Barnett’s status will be reclassified and re-instated as a full-time employee at the same pay rate - $3,854.60 every two weeks – contingent upon his waiving health insurance benefits, city records show.
Barnett served as a captain and interim chief in West Carrollton prior to his current status.