After 40 years of service, Independence Township Fire Chief Steve Ronk is leaving the community to serve as fire chief in northern Michigan.
Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle said Ronk requested no big hurrah be made over his departure.
Kittle said Ronk’s choice to replace him as interim chief is Deputy Fire Chief Mitch Petterson.
A search committee will conduct interviews and make the final recommendation.
‘I fully endorse Mitch to be appointed Independence fire chief because of his many years of union, command, management and administrative experience as well as his ability to think out of the box to continue to provide the high level of fire and safety support this community has asked for under some of the most trying economic times in recent memory,? said Ronk.
Petterson, 39, has already served the department for more than 20 years.
‘Deputy Chief Petterson has served under Chief Ronk for his entire 22+ year career,? said Kittle. ‘According to Chief Ronk, Mitch embodies the spirit the Independence Fire Department has for the residents of our great community.?
Petterson has served in numerous positions from firefighter to paramedic, to acting fire chief.
Ronk said appointing Petterson as interim fire chief is in the best interest of the community and he is confident Petterson will serve the position with professionalism and passion.
Ronk’s recommendation should carry a lot of weight after those 40 years of service, which began when he was just a teen.
A lifelong resident of Clarkston, after graduating from Clarkston High School, Ronk began studying fire science at Macomb Community College when he took his first job with the department.
Learning to serve the community was something Ronk learned as a boy from his grandmother and his father. In Independence Township, the Ronk family is well-known for their service to the community.
His grandmother Elizabeth began her nearly 40 years of service to residents back in 1933 when the township ran its own post office. She served as postmistress.
In 1947, his father, Frank ‘Tink? Ronk began his decades long service to the community when he first joined the fire department. By 1972, he had the honor of serving as the very first full-time fire chief in community history. Tink also held a position as township supervisor from 1984-92.
In a 2003 interview with The Clarkston News, Ronk discussed his family legacy of service to the community which included growing up watching his father work on the department.
“I grew up with it,” Ronk said. “I don’t think there was any pressure to join the department. It was just something I was involved in. Back then, it was more of a family atmosphere, as opposed to today, where it’s more of a business. It was part of my life. I enjoyed what the fire department did for the community, helping people in time of need. It really gave me a sense of gratification.”
Ronk took the reins as chief of the department in 2000 after former chief Gar Wilson retired.
Ronk’s recommendation was expected to be approved at a Feb. 17th board of trustees meeting.
Petterson is a 1993 graduate of Clarkston High School High School.
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Springfield Township is also in need of a new fire chief. A search for a chief is underway again after a chief hired in July 2014 did not work out.