By Karen Williamson

and Derek Price

NEWS@CULLMANTIMES.COM

HANCEVILLE — The City of Hanceville has a new fire chief.

Alan Bolling, who started his new job Tuesday, was hired Monday night to replace Mike Watson, whose recent termination came amid allegations that Hanceville leaders broke state bid laws.

Bolling, a Crane Hill resident, received an associate degree in fire science from Jefferson State in Jefferson County in 1976 and completed emergency medical technician training at Wallace State Community College.

Asked if it was difficult to take the assignment given all the turmoil surrounding Watson’s suspension and termination, Bolling said, “That has nothing to do with whether to take the position or not. I am a fireman. That is what I am concerned with — the fire chief and fire chief’s job and getting the fire department going in the right direction as soon as possible.”

Bolling said he was not aware of the past problems.

“As far as anything that happened before I was hired, I have no knowledge and nothing to do with it,” he said.

Hanceville Mayor Katie Whitley said the city received 11 applications, of which five were interviewed for the job.

The job interviews were open to the public, Whitley said, but Hanceville officials never announced when those interviews would take place. The Times was never notified about them.

“That was just administrative action that was taken. It was open to the public, but it was nothing that had to be publicized,” Whitley said. “You don’t have to notify the press. It’s open to the public, but we don’t have to notify anybody.”

Whitley said she didn’t know if Bolling was the best person for the job, but she did say she agreed with the council’s decision to hire him. She said his level of experience and background working with volunteer firefighters would be an asset for the city.

“I think he’s going to work well with the public and the volunteers,” Whitley said. “Mainly he’s just a good P.R. person.”

Bolling’s compensation will be $20,000 a year. He cannot earn more than that because he receives state retirement, according to Hanceville City Council member Larry Cornett. He also will be provided with a vehicle to drive to and from work, according to council member Joann Walls.

Watson was paid $33,000 per year, Whitley said.

Asked if the city’s recent controversy had impacted either the number or quality of applicants the city received for the job, Whitley simply said, “No.”

Whitley said the city was still looking for two paid firefighters, either part- or full-time. She said she did not know what their salaries would be — it depends on their qualifications — and did not know how much the city had budgeted to pay for them.



Times editor Derek Price contributed to this story.