Search for new fire chief to get underway

March 2, 2021

Fire chief John Banks announces plans to retire this summer

The City Council approved a contract with Strategic Government Resources to assist in recruitment for a new fire chief. The move comes following the announcement that current Fire Chief John Banks will retire later this year.

“We received notification that Fire Chief John Banks will be retiring on June 30 after 42 years of service,” Human Resources Director Laura Sanders told the council Monday. “I want to make sure I take a moment to thank him for his dedication, loyalty and sacrifice to the city of Bartlesville. We appreciate him and wish him all the best in his next chapter.

“But with his upcoming retirement comes the responsibility of filling his shoes. After exploring options and looking at what we did when we hired our police chief in 2018, we would like to take a similar approach here and work with Strategic Government Resources to accomplish this.”

Sanders said SGR will help in garnering a competitive applicant pool while streamlining the hiring process. The company will conduct digital marketing to post the position and accept and review applications, narrowing the field to the top candidates. Further narrowing will occur with the use of a questionnaire as well as online and in-person interviews. SGR will conduct background checks as well.

The application process is expected to open within the next week, Sanders said. It is anticipated the final selection will be announced in late spring or early summer.

For more information, contact the Human Resources Department at hr@cityofbartlesville.org or 918.338.4221.