MONROE - Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch announced Thursday that he is one of three candidates to assume the role of fire chief in Fort Atkinson.
Rausch, who became the Monroe Fire Chief in 2005, expressed in a news release his belief that his goals for Monroe had been achieved.
"The department is in excellent shape and is well-positioned for the future," Rausch said in the release. "We also have an excellent candidate for the Chief's position in Deputy Chief (Lane) Heins, so right now may be a perfect time for me to move on to other challenges."
Matt Trebatoski, City Manager of Fort Atkinson, said Rausch was one of three finalists for the position. The Fort Atkinson Police and Fire Commission selected the finalists from a pool of 20 initial applicants after a series of telephone and Skype interviews throughout the past several weeks.
The final three candidates will appear in Fort Atkinson for face-to-face interviews in July. The final decision will likely be made in early August, Trebatoski said.
Of the three candidates, Rausch has had the longest career in firefighting.
One candidate, Gary Baum, began his career in 2001, served as deputy fire chief in St. Charles, Illinois, from 2013-15 and is currently the training officer of the Amboy Fire Protection District in Amboy, Illinois.
Another candidate, Perry Howard, first worked in Grayslake, Illinois, in 1981, served as assistant fire chief in Beach Park, Illinois, from 2005-13, and as the fire chief in Burlington from 2013-15.
Rausch's career began in 1980 and reached Monroe in 2002. During his time here, he created an emergency management plan for the city and helped set up the county's Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, a statewide system of cooperating fire departments and emergency response agencies.
Rausch nearly left Monroe in 2011 but reconsidered after a show of support from members of the Monroe Fire Department.
Fort Atkinson's previous Fire Chief, Mike Reel, retired in May after four years as chief, and 36 years with the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, Trebatoski said. His position is currently held by Acting Fire Chief Adrian Bump.
Rausch did not respond to requests for comment.
Rausch, who became the Monroe Fire Chief in 2005, expressed in a news release his belief that his goals for Monroe had been achieved.
"The department is in excellent shape and is well-positioned for the future," Rausch said in the release. "We also have an excellent candidate for the Chief's position in Deputy Chief (Lane) Heins, so right now may be a perfect time for me to move on to other challenges."
Matt Trebatoski, City Manager of Fort Atkinson, said Rausch was one of three finalists for the position. The Fort Atkinson Police and Fire Commission selected the finalists from a pool of 20 initial applicants after a series of telephone and Skype interviews throughout the past several weeks.
The final three candidates will appear in Fort Atkinson for face-to-face interviews in July. The final decision will likely be made in early August, Trebatoski said.
Of the three candidates, Rausch has had the longest career in firefighting.
One candidate, Gary Baum, began his career in 2001, served as deputy fire chief in St. Charles, Illinois, from 2013-15 and is currently the training officer of the Amboy Fire Protection District in Amboy, Illinois.
Another candidate, Perry Howard, first worked in Grayslake, Illinois, in 1981, served as assistant fire chief in Beach Park, Illinois, from 2005-13, and as the fire chief in Burlington from 2013-15.
Rausch's career began in 1980 and reached Monroe in 2002. During his time here, he created an emergency management plan for the city and helped set up the county's Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, a statewide system of cooperating fire departments and emergency response agencies.
Rausch nearly left Monroe in 2011 but reconsidered after a show of support from members of the Monroe Fire Department.
Fort Atkinson's previous Fire Chief, Mike Reel, retired in May after four years as chief, and 36 years with the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, Trebatoski said. His position is currently held by Acting Fire Chief Adrian Bump.
Rausch did not respond to requests for comment.