Elkhart Fire Merit Commission approves promotion of Firefighter Hunter Price

The Elkhart Fire Merit Commission approved the promotion of Firefighter Hunter Price to driver operator during its April 27, 2026 meeting.

Chief Rodney Dale, fire chief, announced that Hunter Price had been offered and accepted the promotion and had “successfully completed all testing, evaluations, and prerequisites associated with this promotion process.” Dale said the promotion is effective April 27, 2026, and that Price’s first shift in the new position will be April 29, 2026.

The promotion was presented under Indiana Code 36-8-3.5-16, which Chief Dale cited when notifying the Fire Merit Commission of the personnel action. The chair asked for a motion to approve the promotion; a motion and a second were made and the commission approved the promotion by voice vote. The meeting record shows members signified approval by saying “I.” No roll-call vote with individual vote names or counts was recorded in the transcript.

Dale opened the meeting by noting unusually low firefighter attendance because crews were responding to two serious incidents during the meeting. “We have a low attendance today by the firefighters because there’s a very serious incident going on right now,” he said, adding that one incident occurred “out behind Walmart” and another was northwest of that scene. He asked attendees to keep the two patients involved in their thoughts.

After the vote members offered congratulations and planned to take photographs with Price following the meeting. The chair also asked whether there was any union business; none was presented. An attendee later asked whether joining by Zoom counted toward attendance; the presiding officer said remote participation does not count for quorum but that members can still vote when attending by Zoom.

The commission adjourned after approving the promotion.