Lewisburg council fills staff vacancies

LEWISBURG — Council promoted a part-time service department employee and changed the status of a police officer from part time to full time.

Council also approved the employment of a high school student who will be an apprentice with the fire department.

Wyatt Hutchins was promoted to public service maintenance crew leader while Dorothy Stringer became a full-time police officer.

Tri-County North senior Hope Strawser will be employed as a firefighter through the fire department’s apprentice program.

Stringer was sworn in by Lewisburg law director Steve Hobbs.

Police chief R.G. McGee noted Stringer has been a part-time Lewisburg police officer for nearly four years.

McGee said Stringer has also been employed in German Township and Clark County.

McGee said Stringer is the right person for the job.

“She’s been loyal to us. She’s worked hard since she’s been here,” McGee said.

“I think it’s good to hire inside instead of going outside the department,” McGee added.

Hutchins, who replaces Dustin Green as public service maintenance crew leader, was recommended to council for the position by municipal manager Jeff Sewert and village supervisor Josh Harry.

Jeff Sewert noted Hutchins graduated from Tri-County North High School and is a recent graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield.

“Mr. Hutchins has been employed by the Village of Lewisburg for over four years and currently resides in Lewisburg,” Jeff Sewert said.

Jeff Sewert said Hutchins is the right choice for the position because he has the same qualities of Green.

“Mr. Hutchins has instilled in himself a good work ethic. He treats our employees, citizens and businesses well,” Jeff Sewert said.

“Mr. Hutchins will be an asset to Josh just like Dustin,” Jeff Sewert added.

Hutchins thanked council and the administration for the promotion.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work here and I really enjoy it,” Hutchins said.

“I like working for the community that I grew up in. It’s an honor to work here,” Hutchins continued.

Jeff Sewert, after council approved Hutchinson for the position, praised Harry for his knowledge, skill and dedication to the village.

“When you open the faucet every morning, the water comes out. When you flush the toilet, the water goes out of the toilet to the wastewater treatment plant. When you put the trash out, it gets picked up. The recycling gets picked up. The pot holes get fixed. The leaves will be picked up before long. The streets get paved,” Jeff Sewert said.

“Then in the meantime, all the stuff that breaks down is fixed because of that man. He can fix anything,” Jeff Sewert said.

“We barely contract anything out, We can do everything pretty much in house with his crew and himself leading that,” Jeff Sewert said.

“If we do contract anything out, it’s usually someone local and we’re right beside the local people working on it. Very little goes out we can’t work on and that’s because of Josh and his crew,” Jeff Sewert added.

Harry, who thanked Jeff Sewert for the compliment, said “we try to get everything done in the community.”

“That’s why I need someone like Wyatt to be here beside me so he can learn and he can take that role one of these days,” Harry continued.

Fire chief BJ Sewert noted Strawser is in the firefighter/EMS program at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

BJ Sewert also noted Strawser is part of the village fire department’s apprenticeship program assistant fire chief Bryan Sowers was instrumental in creating.

“Bryan did a phenomenal job getting this program started so we could get it moving,” BJ Sewert said.

Sowers said the apprenticeship program benefits both Strawser and the fire department.

“The apprenticeship program, supported by the chief, is a chance to grab one of our high school seniors attending a technical program, such as CTC, and get them experience throughout their senior year so that when Hope graduates, it’s a seamless transition into our normal daily operations,” Sowers said.

“We have a year to work with her and get her up to speed on our operations and how we do things in Lewisburg,” Sowers said.

Sowers said after Strawser gains that knowledge and experience, the hope is she will remain with the department after she graduates and continues her education at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

Sowers noted as a way to financially support her, “we’ll give her a little bit of compensation while giving her the opportunity for a real-world experience.”

“It’s a win-win for us. We get her in and we get an extra set of hands on a fire scene or on a medic call while she’s gaining experience,” Sowers said.

Hobbs pointed out Strawser will be a regular part-time employee with stipulations.

You are hiring her with the understanding that she’s going to be under a separate set of protocols as far as what she can and can’t do,” Hobbs said.

“We’re not putting her in a burning building or hopefully not putting her in harm’s way,” Hobbs added.

Strawser said she will be learning at CTC the material that will prepare her for EMT basics when she graduates and begins her studies at Sinclair Community College.

“Once I pass my state test I will be a level 2 firefighter. Once I graduate, hopefully I’ll be on Lewisburg’s department,”Strawser said.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].