Interim Chief Olsen, two others considered for fire district chief

COLUMBIA — Board members of the Boone County Fire Protection District confirm that Interim Chief Scott Olsen is one of three finalists being considered for the permanent job.

Shelley Dometrorch said Dominick Lanza, who has experience in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Kenneth Craft Jr., who has experience in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers, Fla., are the other two candidates.

A fourth finalist withdrew from consideration.

The three remaining candidates will participate in an assessment Sept. 16, which consists of group and individual exercises. Dometrorch said some of the exercises include participating in a mock news conference, dealing with an employee problem, attending a mock board meeting and conducting a presentation.

On Sept. 17, the Fire District board will hold public interviews with the candidates. However, the public will not be allowed to participate. Following the public interviews, each candidate will have an individual, closed meeting with the board, Dometrorch said.

Olsen has served as interim chief for the Fire District since former Chief Steve Paulsell retired in November 2008 after 38 years on the job. Paulsell stepped down amid controversy about his salary, contract and personnel and management issues, as previously reported by the Missourian.

Olsen has been with the Fire District since 1985, when he came on as a volunteer. He was hired as a bureau chief in charge of support services in 1990 and was promoted to deputy chief at the same time he was made interim fire chief.