Gonzales council may consider hiring full-time paid chief

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The Gonzales City Council will meet in special session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, to discuss the structure of the Gonzales Fire Department and the potential creation of a full-time paid fire chief position for the city.

Gonzales Fire Chief Keith Schmidt was recently appointed the new Gonzales County sheriff, succeeding the late Robert Ynclan, who passed away in September.

As a result of assuming his new duties as sheriff, Schmidt would have to step down from his supervisory position with the fire department, based on Texas constitutional restrictions on holding two civil offices of emolument, though previous Texas Attorney General opinions do say a sheriff can still serve as a volunteer firefighter.

The Gonzales City Council has previously discussed steps that would help the city lower its key rate, including the hiring of a full-time paid fire chief to oversee the Gonzales Fire Department, which is comprised of both career and volunteer firefighters.

Council members will then meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, to discuss resolutions to award a contract for a 15-inch wastewater line project; to authorize appointments and reappointments to various city commissions; to reject a proposal for a new recirculating pump for the reflecting pool at the Gonzales Memorial Museum and authorize staff to readvertise the project and to amend the city’s master rate and fee schedule for various city services.

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