Columbiana discusses recruiting coordinator candidate and volunteer staffing for fire department

The city’s fire‑department representative told council members the department is short on retention and recruiting capacity and that he and the mayor plan to bring back a previously considered candidate, Shane Dopes, to discuss hiring.

“We're looking at calling one of those back in, Mister Shane Dopes,” the chief said, describing Dopes as one of the lead applicants and expressing interest in bringing him in to help move grant work and recruiting efforts.

Council members asked whether a new recruiting coordinator must serve a probationary period (for example, 30 days) before the city could access grant funds tied to the position; the chief said the grant funding became available when the position was filled previously and that the earlier candidate had not billed hours. The discussion also covered age and insurance rules for operating apparatus: the chief said municipal insurance permitted operation at age 19 while some insurers request age 24, and council members noted the city had a junior program years earlier that allowed younger volunteers to train but limited the tasks they could perform until reaching minimum ages.

Why it matters: The recruiting coordinator role is tied to grant administration and staffing continuity for emergency response; delays in filling the position can affect the department’s ability to pursue grant‑funded programs and maintain volunteer ranks.

What’s next: The mayor and chief said they will invite Dopes back for further discussion and continue to balance insurance requirements, training and recruitment timelines.