I understand Ron was filling in for the time being. But why until 2027? I thought Stanley was going to take care of their own people, and that.”

Aldperson Laurie Foster

The Stanley City Council approved the hiring of Boyd Fire Chief Ron Patten as Stanley Fire Chief and Medical Service Director through January 1, 2027, at the Oct. 7 council meeting. Alderperson Laurie Foster questioned why Patten was being appointed.
“I thought they already had a fire chief already recommended,” said Foster, referencing members of the Stanley Fire Department’s nomination of Captain Nathan Samplawski.
“The mayor makes the appointment. The council confirms the appointment,” Mayor Mike Henke answered.
Alderperson Jason Meyer asked if Foster’s objection was due to Patten serving on another department or the dates of his term.
“He’s in charge of Boyd,” Foster said. “I understand Ron was filling in for the time being. But why until 2027? I thought Stanley was going to take care of their own people, and that.”
“Nathan (Samplawski) has been acting as Stanley’s representation for the Fire Department,” stated City Administrator Nicole Pilgrim.
“Ron Patten is the Chief of Stanley. Would I prefer someone local to the town to be Chief? Yes. But Ron, in the past when he stepped in after the previous chief who is no longer with us, from my understanding he did a fine job, respected everybody, kept the department going, brought up someone from in the department to be the chief. And now we are in a position where we need someone to be chief again. I think he is a qualified candidate,” Meyer said.
With only Foster and Alderperson Aaron Dickson voting against the appointment of Patten, the council confirmed Henke’s appointment of Patten.
The approval for Patten’s appointment came the same evening as former Stanley Fire Chief Korey Hagenson’s resignation from Stanley Fire and EMS was approved, effective Oct. 7. Hagenson addressed the Council at the meeting stating that his decision to resign wasn’t made because he wanted to but “because I had to.” Hagenson, who noted that he has 18years of experience on the fire department and 16 years as an EMR, spoke in his letter of resignation, “The City Council fired me as fire chief on August 5, 2024, based off of fake facts and a one-sided meeting that I was informed by the “mayor” I couldn’t attend. I then applied for the assistant chief position and the assistant EMS service director and wasn’t even considered. I made almost all fire and EMS calls since taking over as the Chief.” He added, “I worked extremely hard getting and keeping all the trucks in service and up to date. I did almost 100% of the maintenance on the trucks in service and up to date. My wife and I volunteered our time to get the brush command and tender 2 with nothing but push back from the so called ‘city council.’” Hagenson mentioned that he didn’t serve for the money or the name. “I did it because I love to help the good people in this town and all the visitors.” He finished, “Thanks for the 18 years of little to no respect.”
Following a controversial discussion regarding the appointment of new officers to the Stanley Fire and EMS Department, the council voted to table the appointments and refer it back to the fire committee for consideration.