By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
Ohio native Brian Taylor was recently named as the fire chief of the Pleasant Township Fire Department. The township’s board of trustees said they selected Taylor to the position because of his lengthy experience working in the industry, his education and his outstanding personality.
Upon receiving the recommendations from the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association, the Pleasant Township board of trustees began the interviewing process to determine which applicant would helm the township’s fire department in April.
According to the board, they had four outstanding candidates before them, but there was something about Brian Taylor, the fire chief at Marion Township, that they just really liked.
For trustee Randi Good, it was his background that intrigued her.
“He comes from a background that seemed to fit in with the dynamics of Pleasant Township,” she said.
For Nancy Hunter, it was his personality.
“From the beginning, I was struck by his manner,” she said. “He is very down to earth.”
It also helped, they said, that Taylor had over two decades worth of experience working in various capacities at the Bazetta Township Fire Department, the Vienna Township Fire Department, the Fowler Township Fire Department and the Marion Township Fire Department.
“His credentials were excellent,” trustee Ed Sheets remarked.
With all of those factors in mind, the board of trustees unanimously agreed to offer the position of fire chief at the Pleasant Township Fire Department to Taylor last month. Taylor said he didn’t spend much time mulling over the offer.
“It was a no brainer,” he said after his swearing-in ceremony on June 14.
Taylor said there were a number of reasons as to why he accepted the position, but one of the most important reasons was because of its location.
“My wife Christina is a respiratory therapist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and her commute (from Marion) is about an hour-and-a-half,” he said.
Taylor said by taking this position, it will significantly decrease her driving time and her time away from the family.
He said that another factor that played into his decision to accept the position was because the township reminded him of his hometown in Cortland, Ohio.
“It was very much like Bazetta,” he said “and the more I learned about Pleasant Township, the more I felt like this place would be a good fit for us.”
Taylor, whose first day on the job was June 6, said he is excited and nervous about the opportunity before him.
“There are a lot of nerves, but the guys here at the fire station have all been great.”
He said he looks forward to speaking with them and discovering their likes, dislikes and what they think the department needs to improve the quality of life in the township.
Keith Barrett, fire chief at the Brookfield Township Fire Department, said Pleasant Township is lucky to have his friend as their fire chief.
“He is very intelligent, very well educated and a very good person,” he said. “I have no doubt that he will do a great job here.”
