Chief White Out

The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously in a closed meeting Wednesday to accept the resignation of Mehlville Fire Chief Tim White.

The resignation comes after White was placed on forced administrative leave from June 13 to Wednesday of this week, MFPD Board Chairman Aaron Hilmer said.

“It was an amicable thing. Tim White and the board disagreed about the future direction of the district,” Hilmer said. “After lengthy discussion, we both came to the same conclusion, we both decided to amicably part ways."

Assistant Chief Brian Hendricks will step into the roll of interim chief and Deputy Chief Training Officer Dan Lafata will temporarily take over assistant chief duties. Hilmer said Hendricks has been with the district approximately 12 years.

White, who has been employed by the district since June of 1985, will receive nine months pay and benefits and a $15,000 education stipend if he wants to pursue another education direction, Hilmer said. He added that the severance package would not cost the district additional expenses and was in line with other packages given to early retirement employees.

White made $127,665.33 in total compensation and benefits in 2009, according to the MFPD website, and has been serving as the chief since April of 2009. He was promoted to administrative chief and served alongside former chief Jim Silvernail until Silvernail’s contract expired in April 2010.

“This wasn’t based on anything that happened,” Hilmer said. “It was more where we were going to go with the district. I certainly respect White’s vision. It just wasn’t something the board agreed with.”

Hilmer said the board wasn't going to rush to find a new chief.

“We have such a tremendous administrative staff now, the district should continue to run just fine,” he said. “I don’t foresee it being any kind of rush process.”

Hilmer said White and the board started disagreeing after the April election in which Hilmer was re-elected. Prior to the election, Hilmer said the chief was doing an "epic job of working for residents."

“After elections settled down, we asked, ‘Where are we going to be?’ and it became clear that we were clashing,” Hilmer said. “I think he’s going to have other possibilities to pursue and we wish him well in those endeavors."

"The fire district is better off than it was before he was chief. There have been a lot of positive things that have happened.”