Excerpts from jg-tc.com:
The city council voted Tuesday night to hire Litchfield’s former fire chief, Kevin Schott, as the Mattoon Fire Department’s interim chief. Schott has extensive experience as a city chief and as a firefighter with the Illinois Air National Guard. After retiring from the Guard, Schott served as chief operating officer for the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office.
Schott’s interim chief contract will be effective Jan. 13-July 12. The city will begin searching for a permanent chief with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association’s help.
The previous interim chief, Kris Phipps, resigned in October about eight months into his 12 month contract due to disagreements with other officials regarding the department’s operations. The previous chief, Tony Nichols, retired early in February.
