Horne named new Philadelphia fire chief
Assistant Philadelphia Fire Chief Deric Horne has been named the new fire chief replacing Pierce Clark who retired.
Bill Chunn was named the assistant fire chief at the same city board meeting last week. Both are longtime members of the department with Horne starting in 2001 and Chunn in 2003.
Horne has served as the assistant chief since 2018. He replaces longtime fire chief Pierce Clark, who retired at the end of October.
“Both men have earned these appointments,” said Mayor James A. Young. “Both have good standing with the fire department and the city. And, they had a strong recommendation from the former chief. They have a passion for our city and want to the fire department better.”
The vote was unanimous. Horne’s salary starts at $60,000 per year with potential performance-based raises of $2,500 possible in six months and in October 2023. Chunn’s salary was set at $55,000 per year with potential performance pay raises of $1,500 possible in six months and again October 2023.
Horne said becoming the fire chief has been his goal.
“It was my desire to move on up the chain,” Horne said. “I am not planning on any changes right now. Chief Clark left us on good shape. He and I collaborated on most things.”
Horne was born and raised in Philadelphia. He said the department responds to more than just fires.
“Over the years, I have gone to wrecks, rescue calls, entrapments, everything,” Horne said. “We assist other departments on calls. When storms come through, we are out cutting limbs and trying to clear the roads.”
Chunn is also a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. His great uncle, Herman Chunn, served as the first captain of the Philadelphia fire department.
In other matters, aldermen voted to:
• Approve the insurance renewals with Philadelphia Security Insurance;
• Approve a motion to pay BSN Sports for basketball goals at the Booker T. Washington gym for the Park Commission at the cost of $8,549. The money will come out of Bond B funds:
• Approve for the mayor, board, and city clerk to attend the MML Mid-Winter Legislative Conference in January 2023 in Jackson, and for the city to pay registration and travel expenses:
• Approve a motion for a preservation and maintenance covenant with Mississippi Department of Archives and History regarding the Booker T. School building and to allow the mayor to sign for the city;
• Approve to pay D&M Clark Construction $384,614 with PU DFA funds for work at the sewage lagoon;
• Approve the FYE 2022 Municipal Questionnaire:
• Approve to amend the2021/2022 Budget to actual;
• Approve the ordinance on updating building codes to 2018 code standards;
• Approve a $2 per hour performance raise for city inspector Jay Eakes. The vote was 4-1 in favor with Alderman-at-Large James Waltman voting no;
• Approve hiring Natalie Green part-time with Animal Control at $10 per hour pending a drug screen. She will work no more than 29 hours per week;
• Accept the resignations of Josh Ray and Lindsey Kidd from the police department;
• Approve the promotions of David Brackett and Scottie Dorman to lieutenant in the police department with a pay rate of $20.52 per hour;
• Approve for the police chief to attend Winter Chiefs Conference in Natchez in December, and the city to pay registration and travel expense;
• Approve to purchase two Dodge Chargers from Landers at state contract price, and,
• Approve the purchase of two new streetlights; One for 531 Poplar Avenue and the other for the landfill.
The board went into executive session before taking a vote on the fire chief and the assistant fire chief.