COLUMBIA, MO (March 2, 2011) -

City Manager Bill Watkins today announced the appointment of Charles P. Witt Jr. as fire chief, effectiveMarch 6, 2011. Witt will earn an annual salary of $115,000 and will receive a car allowance and other authorized employee benefits. He replaces Fire Chief William H. Markgraf, who will retire March 5.

Watkins and a community advisory committee considered four finalists for the position: Chief Gary Birch, Holt, Missouri Fire Protection District; Deputy Chief Jeffrey Grote, Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department; Chief Thomas Solberg, Peoria, Arizona Fire Department and Witt. Grote dropped out after his interviews inColumbia.

“We had a good group to choose from,” Watkins said, “but I got strong, positive feedback from committee members and several Fire Department employees on Chuck’s commitment to citizens, employees and the organization. I have no doubt that Chuck really wants this position and wants to make a difference.”

 

“It is a humbling honor to be chosen as the fire chief for the city ofColumbia,” Witt said. “I look forward to developing a road map for the future of excellence in the Columbia Fire Department.”

Witt’s tenure would be determined by his participation in a city deferred retirement option program (also called “DROP”), available to participants in the fire and police pension systems. DROP allows a participant to defer receiving retirement benefits while continuing employment with the city. It’s a financial incentive for the employee, and it allows the police and fire departments to retain expertise.

“Chuck accepted the position knowing that, under our current pension regulations, he might be required to leave city employment in February 2015, when his DROP period ends,” Watkins said. “It’s possible that our pension regulations could change, but there are no guarantees.”

Witt also is expected to make steady, significant progress toward completing a bachelor’s degree during his probationary first-year as chief. “Our job description includes a minimum education requirement of a bachelor’s degree,” Watkins said. “Chuck has been working toward this goal, and I’m convinced that attaining this credential will serve him as chief and benefit our whole operation.”

Witt’s experience includes serving as a firefighter inSullivan, Mo., (1977 – 1984) and with the Boone County, Missouri Fire Protection District (1993 – 1998); service at theUniversityofMissouri Fireand Rescue Training Institute (1984 – 2002); and a steady rise through the ranks of the Columbia Fire Department, starting in 1986. He earned an associate’s degree in business management fromEastCentralCollegeinUnion, Mo.

Witt is married to Nancy Smarr-Witt and has two children, Brandon and Patrick.