EAST LIVERPOOL — Mayor-elect Bobby Smith announced Tuesday night after the unofficial results were posted that he had selected East Liverpool Fire Chief Bill Jones to fill the position of safety service director when his term as mayor begins in January.

Jones had planned to retire as chief in March after serving with the East Liverpool Fire Department for 33 years, but will move his retirement up to December so he can fill the position on Jan. 16 after the current safety service director vacates it on Jan. 15.

Jones noted that per Ohio Revised Code (ORC), a change in the office of safety service director begins on Jan. 15, not Jan. 1 when the change of mayor takes place. This is done to ensure a smooth transition in the administrations.

Smith said he discussed the position with Jones for a long time and that is what makes his win as mayor even more exciting because he and Jones worked together during their careers as firefighters.

“I think the world of his professionalism and he thinks the world of my temperament,” Smith said. “My temperament has saved peoples’ lives.”

Smith also noted that he thinks the chief is a great man and neither one of them are in this for themselves. He also said that Jones is the only person he would have done this with.

“Everybody loves Bill (Jones). He is very professional and he has brought in millions of dollars in grants since he has become chief,” Smith said.

Smith has been working with Jones already on the recompete grant they hope will provide an economic boost to the city through new employment opportunities.

Jones doesn’t have set plans right now for what he will do once in office. His plan is to sit down with Smith and the two of them will work together to put a plan in place. He noted that he and Smith had prior conversations but that they will have to sit down together with the nuts and bolts and get a plan going.

“As we all know there are many issues in this town that need tackled. We will have to sit down and prioritize where we want to start, but that will be a joint decision with the mayor and myself,” Jones said. “We really can’t prioritize, though, until we get that hand-off and know where we are so we can know where we want to go.”

Jones said he feels the fire department is in good shape and can run itself which will allow him to focus on other issues and work with all the departments to learn what their needs are and go from there.

According to Jones, based on the results of a civil service promotion exam, which will be scheduled soon, one of the current assistant fire chiefs in the department will take the chief’s position when Jones retires in December.

Jones is known in the city for his transparency and said he plans to maintain that transparency when he takes the position of safety service director. He said he will give the answers the best he can and if he doesn’t know the answer, he will find out.

“Nothing about me will change other than my title,” Jones said. “I was born and raised here. This city helped me raise my family and put food on the table and clothes on their backs. I’m definitely not turning my back on this city. I’m going to do the best I can to get her turned around.”

Smith, who said he wants to be mayor to fix some things and help the people of East Liverpool, is excited to work with Jones to better the city when they both take office in January.

Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com