Dec. 31--FORT MILL -- Fort Mill Fire Chief Ken Kerber has resigned after more than 15 years with the Fort Mill Fire Department.
Kerber's last day at the fire station will be Friday, he told The Herald Monday morning.
Kerber, whose tenure at the fire department saw the introduction of shift work and more full-time staff, said had been thinking about resigning for some time. After speaking with City Manager David Hudspeth, he turned in his resignation. He said he's leaving the city on good terms after deciding to resign from his role for "personal reasons."
He would not elaborate.
"I'm just going to look for some other things to do," he said. "I'm looking forward to what's next. There are some other opportunities out there that I'm seriously looking at."
Kerber did not want to say what those opportunities were. Kerber said he first joined the Fort Mill Fire Department in 1987 when it was largely composed of volunteer firefighters.
He became an employee of the Town of Fort Mill in 2004. Since then, the fire department has grown, he said, adding that he feels he's leaving the fire department in better shape than what it was when he arrived.
The fire department is now staffed "24/7, 365" days a week, he said. Firefighters used to work Mondays through Fridays during the day, he said.
"I think we're a lot more proficient and efficient in what we do," he said.
Kerber officially handed in his resignation on Dec. 21 with plans "to pursue other employment opportunities," said Fort Mill Town Manager David Hudspeth. His official last day of work will be next Friday after taking some leave time.
Hudpseth said Kerber's decision came as a surprise.
The town probably will not start aggressively searching for Kerber's replacement until Dennis Pieper, Tega Cay's town manager, takes his role as the new Fort Mill town manager, Hudspeth said. Hudspeth will retire on Feb. 1.
Hudspeth said he plans to allow Pieper to handle the interviewing and hiring process, which he said can be "lengthy."
"I would expect that process to take two-to-three months," he said.
In the meantime, Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Chapman will step in as interim chief. Kerber's job vacancy hasn't officially been posted.
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Copyright 2012 - The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.)
