Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
The search has begun for a new Merrill Fire Chief, as current chief Dave Savone has retired, effective immediately.
According to City Administrator Dave Johnson, Savone turned over a letter of retirement this morning as part of a pre-scheduled meeting. Johnson indicated Savone has been on vacation over the last week and while on vacation, Savone made a phone call to Johnson. While Johnson stated he would rather not disclose the nature of the call, he did indicate scheduling this morning’s meeting with Savone. Johnson stated one of the topics discussed was the difference in management styles the two men have.
“We haven’t always agreed on how the Merrill Fire Department should be run, nor how employees are treated,” Johnson stated.
Savone informed Johnson he had been considering retirement for the last several months as now he is vested in the Wisconsin Retirement System. Savone nor the city had made any sort of previous public announcement regarding Savone’s impending retirement. In the interim, Battalion Chief Scott Krause has stepped in. Johnson indicated an ad has already been placed on a website open and accessible across the country. He estimates a new chief being in place by this summer.