Devon Brown will be the next Ashland Fire and Rescue chief after Ashland City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement Nov. 17 between the city of Ashland and Jackson County Fire District No. 3.
Brown will serve the city of Ashland while he’s an employee of Fire District 3.
District 3 will provide “fire chief services,” including administration, personnel management, budgeting and reporting to the City Council and city manager.
Councilor and Mayor-elect Julie Akins voted against the selection based on a concern that the time between theorizing approaches to fire chief selection and hiring was too brief.
Former AFR Chief David Shepherd’s retirement went into effect Nov. 1, and Division Chief Ralph Sartain assumed the role of acting chief.
In September, the City Council directed staff to pursue appointment of a one- to three-year chief by entering into an intergovernmental agreement with District 3 rather than hiring a chief through direct employment — an idea proposed by District 3 Chief Bob Horton, according to council documents.