Executive Editor - Call Newspapers
April 22, 2009 - With their overwhelming approval April 7 of two tax-rate-decrease measures, Mehlville Fire Protection District voters have mandated that the Board of Directors make Mehlville "the premier fire district in St. Louis County," board Chairman Aaron Hilmer recently told the Call.
We believe the Board of Directors is taking that mandate seriously as evidenced by its decision last week to select Capt. Tim White to be Chief Jim Silvernail's successor when Mr. Silvernail's contract expires next year.
The Board of Directors voted unanimously during an April 14 closed session to name Mr. White to the newly created post of administrative chief fire officer in which he'll work alongside Mr. Silvernail, whose contract expires in April 2010.
Mr. White, a firefighter/emergency medical technician who has been employed by the district since June 1985, was named captain in December.
A lifelong district resident, Mr. White believes the fire service is his true calling because "I wanted to do community service and help people."
Just as the board made an excellent choice in 2005 to name Mr. Silvernail chief, we believe the selection of Mr. White as Mr. Silvernail's successor is a superb decision by board members.
And for roughly the next year, fire-district residents will receive the best of both worlds as Mr. Silvernail, termed "a world-class fire chief" by Mr. White, will serve as Mr. White's mentor.
Some may question the board's decision to select an in-house candidate rather than conduct a nationwide search as recommended earlier this year in a report conducted by an employment consultant.
But Mr. Hilmer responds, "Why spend $20,000 or $30,000 when someone so capable is right underneath our nose? And I think we adhered to the spirit of a lot of the consulting report we got back six months ago. It said you need to hire someone from the outside.
"Well, quite honestly, Tim White is from the outside because he has a different way of thinking, but he knows the inner workings of Mehlville and you couldn't find a better marriage ..."
The board chairman also cited Mr. White's leadership capabilities and his vision for the district as major factors in his selection to be Mr. Silvernail's successor.
With both Mr. Silvernail and Mr. White at the helm of the district for the next year, we truly believe there's no longer any reason to look back, but only forward to Mehlville's bright future.
