The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Looking for finance, fire and EMS experience
by Mark Reaman
More than 40 people have applied for the Crested Butte Fire Protection District (CBFPD) manager position. Applications were received from all over the country, and five local applicants submitted resumes before the April 27 deadline after a month of advertising.
Of the total 44 applicants, a dozen Colorado people in addition to the locals applied for the job, but several did not meet the minimum qualifications.
The position became open with the retirement of longtime district manager Mike Miller, who held the position for 32 years.
Miller said the board of directors plans to invite four finalists to be interviewed in Crested Butte. They are being contacted this week to set up times. The salary ranges between $85,000 and $120,000, depending on experience.
Board chairman Paul Hird said Miller’s shoes will be tough to fill but the district received a lot of good applications.
Hird said as the district continues to evolve from what was a primarily volunteer force to more of a paid department, the board wants “to see someone with an extensive background in both EMS and fire management with the new person who is hired. That is important as the district is changing so we want those qualities in addition to having the strong financial knowledge and background that Mike has been bringing to the job all these years.”
Overall, Hird said the district board is committed to hiring employees with both EMS and fire cross-training and feels whoever is chosen to act as the district manager should be able to understand both branches of the district “and competently confront the challenges and issues that come with such a transitioning district.”
Miller said the goal is to get a new district manager on board as soon as possible, given the timing constraints of possibly having to relocate to the valley.
