Staff photo / Brandon Cantwell New Vienna interim fire Chief Michael Hagood speaks to residents about the importance of the township’s EMS services at Monday’s trustees meeting.

VIENNA — The township’s fire department will have a new chief, effective Sept. 25 but only for a few weeks.

Current fire Chief Richard Brannon announced at Monday’s trustees meeting that he would be retiring again, saying that there was “nothing more” for him to do there. Brannon’s decision to retire comes after 47 years with the department, 29 of them spent as its fire chief.

He retired earlier this year, but came back in an unpaid capacity not long after because of the township’s financial woes, saying he wanted to steer the department through the financial crisis. Vienna was declared to be in fiscal emergency in the spring after $1.3 million in funds was found to be misappropriated. The state auditor’s office, who gave the township the designation, is still investigating the missing funds.

Brannon, with trustee approval, appointed Assistant Chief Michael Hagood as interim fire chief, saying that he planned to stay around to help Hagood move things along.

Hagood, who has been a firefighter for 50 years, 48 of them with Vienna, emphasized the importance of the department getting “back on track” with EMTs and getting a paramedic on staff, noting huge missed chances for income as he spoke to residents during the meeting’s public session.

“The only way we can get money is if that ambulance transports to the hospital. Then we get back almost $300 a call,” Hagood said. “I think the last three months, we would have made $30,000, $70,000, $50,000 we lost because other departments are coming in and transporting, and they’re getting taxed. And they’re tired of coming here.”

Hagood said getting a paramedic on staff at the very least was one of his biggest goals, as they can always find a driver later and EMTs and some first responders could drive the ambulance for the time being.

Hagood, with the support of the department, said he has plans to start a savings account at Farmers National Bank next week to help fund the EMT service, and anyone can donate to it. The current goal is $290,000. Any excess donations will be put toward the squad’s equipment, Hagood said.

Brannon said he had a good run, noting he had the community and the volunteers behind him during his time with the department. Hagood will be acting interim chief until Oct. 7.

Gus Birch was appointed as interim chief as of Oct. 8 and Mark Haddle was appointed as EMS director during executive session, according to officials.

In other news, trustees:

• Approved plans to start meeting twice a month on the first and third Mondays, starting in October. Trustee Phil Pegg explained with all the things coming in, Haddle thought it would be a good idea to do so.

• Accepted officer Austin Kennedy’s resignation from the police department as of Friday.

• Heard from Brannon that the radios from their March grant have been ordered.

• Heard from Road Superintendent Mike Penrose that he is still waiting on estimates for salt spreaders.