PORT TOWNSEND — A veteran firefighter from near Palm Springs, Calif., has been hired as the city’s fire chief — a position largely unfilled for the past six years.
Michael Mingee, 46, of Cathedral City, Calif., accepted an offer from City Manager David Timmons of $75,000 a year.
Since the 1998 retirement of Chief Howard Scott, three people have filled the position on an interim basis and one permanent hire in 2000 resigned after only two months on the job.
Mingee still must go through a background check and medical exam before being officially hired, but he said he expects no problems and plans to start around the beginning of next month.
Mingee had already planned to be in Port Townsend in August for a family vacation. He has vacationed in the city since the mid-1990s, and bought property here several years ago.