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Council appoints and swears in probationary volunteer firefighter effective July 1
Summary
The council appointed Chad Carlin as a probationary volunteer firefighter effective July 1, 2026 to protect his state retirement credit and administered the oath of office during the June 15 meeting.
The Columbia Falls City Council voted to appoint Chad Carlin as a probationary volunteer firefighter, effective July 1, 2026, to protect his state retirement credit. Councilors said Carlin had completed required application steps and had been on the department's waiting list; July 1 start date was requested to prevent loss of retirement credit under state rules.
Councilor moved and seconded the appointment and the motion passed by voice vote. The council then administered the oath of office in the meeting chamber.
Transcript note: the appointment was announced as 'Chad Carlin' and sworn in during the meeting; the oral oath in the transcript includes the phrase "I Chad Darwin" while the formal appointment name in the agenda and motion was Chad Carlin. The council minutes and personnel records should be referenced to confirm the appointee's legal name on the appointment form.
Why it matters: Volunteer firefighters are essential to local emergency response capacity; preserving retirement credit can affect recruitment and retention.
What’s next: The fire department will complete any onboarding and training steps needed for a probationary volunteer with an anticipated effective date of July 1, 2026.
