BROOKVILLE — Brookville Fire Department Lieutenant Matt Rhoades was named the Fire Chief’s 2022 “Officer of the Year.”

Rhoades’ award was presented at the Feb. 21 council meeting by Brookville Fire Department Captain Chad Ferguson.

Ferguson said Rhoades was hired by the Brookville Fire Department in 2019.

“He was promoted to lieutenant in September of 2021,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said Rhoades works full time with the Ohio Department of Transportation as a mechanic.

Ferguson noted Rhoades’ mechanical skills comes in handy at the fire station.

Ferguson also said Rhoades’ position with ODOT enables him to provide assistance to the fire department during the day.

“With ODOT he is able to leave and help us out in case we get a large-scale incident during the day,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said Rhoades receives respect from his fellow firefighters.

“A lot of our guys look up to Matt. He does well in training our new people and getting them checked off as well as our driver/operators,” Ferguson said.

Brookville Fire Chief Ron Fletcher agreed.

“Matt is a wonderful representative of our officer staff,” Fletcher said.

“It is important to us that whoever is selected to represent us is someone who is deserving,” Fletcher added.

“Matt is absolutely deserving above and beyond what we would expect a line lieutenant to do and accomplish for us,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher also agreed with Ferguson concerning Rhoades’ mechanical skills.

“We can’t emphasize enough how much help he provides us in keeping our older fleet roadworthy,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher noted that two other members of the department were honored with awards in 2022.

Fletcher said Jennifer Zerkle was named “EMS Provider of the Year” while Christopher Long was named “Firefighter of the Year.”

Fletcher said both Zerkle and Long were unable to attend the Feb. 21 meeting due to work commitments.

“One of the challenges we run into is the majority of our staff work full-time in other places,” Fletcher said.

In other matters, law director Rod Stephan, speaking on behalf of city manager Sonja Keaton, informed council work will begin soon on the Main Street waterline replacement project.

“Associated Excavating began preliminary work over the last week in preparation of starting the project,” Stephan read from Keaton’s report.

Stephan stated Keaton advised Main Street will remain open to traffic for the most part.

“At times, the roadway may need to be closed for a short period of time to tie in new service lines,” Stephan read from Keaton’s report.

“Detour signs will be posted, and residents/businesses will be notified,” Stephan read from the report.

In relation to the Main Street waterline replacement project, council approved a change order that added $4,830 to the cost of the project.

“The change order is for the installation of 2-inch water service to 130 Main St. in lieu of a 1-inch water service,” Stephan read from Keaton’s report.

Mayor Chuck Letner explained “the water line goes toward the city’s old fire station.”

“For the suppression system, we have to have a minimum 1 1/2-inch line going in,” Letner said.

“We did research using two 3/4-inch lines, but it wasn’t feasible, so we went for the 2-inch line,” Letner continued.

Letner noted the larger water line was not included in the original engineering.

Keaton indicated in her report the original contract price for the project was $331,716.

Keaton’s report stated the change order increased the price to $336,546.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected]