The Russell Springs City Council and Russell County Fiscal Court met on Friday to fill vacancies following the passing of H.M. Bottom.
The city council unanimously approved the hiring of Bobby Johnson as the city’s new fire chief. Johnson has served as assistant chief for a number of years for the fire department, and Mayor Eddie Thomas made the recommendation based off the wishes of Bottom. Thomas said he and Bottom had a meeting a couple months ago about who would replace him if it was needed, and Thomas said Bottom told him Johnson would be his choice.
With an open position for assistant chief due to Johnson’s promotion, Thomas said Captain Mark Barnett would take over as the new assistant chief for the department.
The Russell County Fiscal Court voted to make Ashley Coffey the new Emergency Management Director and Solid Waste Coordinator. Coffey has been a county employee for more than 3 years and has worked in the emergency management office with Bottom.
County Judge Executive Gary Robertson will take over the duties of ABC Administrator.
