[May 15, 2012] Chippewa Fire District chief retiring after 18 months in job Tweet May 15, 2012 (The Leader-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- CHIPPEWA FALLS -- When Kent Hulett moved from Lincoln, Ill., in November 2010 to take the job as Chippewa Fire District chief, his wife, Donna, stayed behind in Illinois, helping raise a grandchild. That fact was a precursor to Hulett's recent announcement he is leaving his job by the end of June. Hulett, 57, said it has been difficult being so far away from his wife for more than a year. "We'd see each other every other month," he said. "It was a long-distance relationship. But this (job) was my passion, and she said it was OK to follow my dreams." Hulett said he hopes to remain in the job long enough to work with his replacement or with an interim chief. "The opportunity came up and it was the right time for me (to leave)," Hulett said of his retirement and plans to return to Illinois. "It's a good time to go back." Hulett has worked in firefighting for 40 years, a job he learned growing up. His father was a fire chief. "My father used to take me to calls when I was a teenager," Hulett said. "I followed in his footsteps." Hulett said he liked the Chippewa Valley. The Chippewa Fire Protection District comprises eight full-time workers, 25 part-time positions and more than 70 volunteers who respond to fire and medical calls. The Fire District covers village of Lake Hallie and the Chippewa County towns of Hallie, Howard, Lafayette and Wheaton. John Neihart, Lake Hallie village president and a retired Chippewa Fire District chief, praised Hulett for his work during his 18-month tenure. "I think he's done a good job," Neihart said. "He worked on (strengthening) the EMS side, and we now have a second full-time crew on, and that provided for better staffing." Hulett said one drawback of retiring now is he won't be here this fall to campaign for a new public safety building to house both the Fire District and Lake Hallie Police Department. The proposal is expected to cost $4.5 million. Voters will decide on the measure in the Nov. 6 general election. A similar proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in April 2007. "I urge people, before they make up their minds, to see our facility and the needs we have," Hulett said. "It needs to get done." Vetter can be reached at 715-723-0303 or [email protected]. ___ (c)2012 the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.) Visit the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.) at www.leadertelegram.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]