Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ogden council appoints Michael T. Slater as fire chief
Summary
The Ogden City Council voted unanimously July 15 to appoint Michael T. Slater as Ogden Fire Department chief after a national search; Slater was sworn in and pledged to continue the department's standards of performance.
Mayor Benjamin K. Nadalski recommended Michael T. Slater to replace the outgoing chief and the council voted to appoint him on July 15, 2025. The council approved the appointment by roll call and Slater was sworn in immediately.
The appointment followed a national search and an internal review that, the mayor said, showed the department attracts top candidates. "I have absolutely no hesitation whatsoever recommending Mike Slater to be the next fire chief for the Ogden Fire Department," Mayor Benjamin K. Nadalski said as he introduced the nomination to the council.
Why this matters: the council moved quickly to fill the department's top uniformed position with a candidate supported by department members and the mayor after a search that included internal and external applicants. The quick vote and immediate swearing-in mean Slater will take on operational leadership at once.
At the meeting, Council Member Cheburger moved to appoint Slater; Council Member Ritchie seconded. The roll call shows all present council members voting in favor: Council Member Blair, Council Member Chburka, Council Member Graff, Council Member Myers, Council Member Ritchie, Vice Chair Hyer and Chair White. The city clerk administered the oath of office following the vote.
After being sworn in, Michael T. Slater thanked his family, department members and former Chief Mike Matthew. Slater noted the department's response that morning to a fatal structure fire and said the crew's fast response had given the patient the best possible chance. "You have my promise that I would give you the best. That I work tirelessly every single day to make sure that we stay on this track that Mike Matthew put us on," Slater said during his remarks after the oath.
Discussion and context: Mayor Nadalski framed the appointment as both a continuation of the department's existing culture and the result of a deliberate search. He told the council the department's culture "attracts the best" and said Slater has the "standard of performance" the city needs. Council members spoke in support of Slater's leadership and service record during the public meeting.
Formal action: Motion to appoint Michael T. Slater as fire chief (mover: Council Member Cheburger; second: Council Member Ritchie). Outcome: approved by roll call vote; recorded as carried. Sworn in: yes. No further formal conditions or amendments were recorded at the time of the vote.
Looking ahead: Slater will lead a department the mayor described as having a high standard of training and performance. The council did not place additional conditions or direct immediate follow-up items during this meeting.
Sources: oral presentation and nomination by Mayor Benjamin K. Nadalski; council roll call and oath administered at the July 15, 2025 Ogden City Council meeting. Quotes are verbatim from the public meeting transcript.
