South Pittsburg board removes Dale Winters as fire chief

photo Jane Dawkins
photo Dale Winters

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - City leaders in South Pittsburg have removed Public Safety Director Dale Winters from his position as fire chief, but he will remain as the town's police chief.

At the November meeting of the South Pittsburg City Commission, board member Debbie Hughes made the motion to remove Winters from the job and to begin the search for a new fire chief.

"I would like to see the fire and police department separated," she said, but gave no other reason for the move.

Hughes lost her bid for re-election on Nov. 4 by just six votes and was attending her final city meeting as a board member.

Mayor Jane Dawkins said she was "blindsided" by the move.

"That's certainly Commissioner Hughes' right," she said. "Personally, I'd like to slow down just a little, and just look into it and see legally what all is involved."

In September 2010, the board fired former fire Chief Freddie Cook and gave Winters that job in addition to being the police chief by designating him the town's public safety director.

On Tuesday, the board voted 4-0 to remove him from that position, while Dawkins abstained.

Dawkins said she didn't have enough information about the situation to vote on it.

Winters was unavailable for comment.

City Attorney Billy Gouger said that under the city's charter and municipal code, City Administrator Sammy Burrows would handle the appointment of a replacement fire chief.

The budgeted amount paid now to the fire chief will be the same amount used to pay a new chief, but officials did not reveal how much money is involved.

For now, South Pittsburg's three assistant fire chiefs will serve as the interim fire chief until a new department head is appointed.

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

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