Fire chief gets raise

Holley-Navarre Fire District fire commissioners approved a 2.5-percent pay increase for Fire Chief Ron Norton during a Sept. 26 meeting.

Commissioner Nancy Morgan made the motion, stating that Norton didn't receive a raise the last time firefighters were given one.

"And he's doing an amazing job," she said.

Commissioner J.E. Blankenship asked if the district had enough money in the budget to give Norton the 2.5-percent increase.

Norton said the raise was already calculated into the budget.

The board approved the raise 3-0. Commissioners Shannon Stone and Lauretta Aiken were not at the meeting. The district is also in the process of hiring a battalion chief to assist Norton with administrative duties. The district hasn't had an assistant chief or a battalion chief since Norton was promoted to chief in May 2009.

In other business, the commissioners approved a $1,988,210 budget for 2012. Norton said the budget had increased slightly since the last meeting because the carryover amount was more than anticipated. The district will carry over $759,448 from the 2011 fiscal year.

For more on this story, see the Oct. 6 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.