- High Springs Fire Chief Joseph Peters transitioned to part-time status on July 5 and now works full-time as a captain for Suwannee County Fire Rescue.
- Commissioner Tristan Grunder says fire department staffing challenges could threaten operations, and that city officials aim to hire a new full-time chief after appointing an interim city manager.
High Springs Fire Department Chief Joseph Peters is planning to leave the department but intends to serve in a part-time capacity until the city finalizes its open manager position.
Questions about the chief’s employment status surfaced during public comment at Thursday’s regular City Commission meeting.
High Springs spokesperson Kevin Mangan told Mainstreet that Peters, who took the helm of the fire department in 2024, had been part-time since July 5 after initiating the transition. He’s also working full-time as a captain for Suwannee County Fire Rescue.
Mangan said Peters thought a different work arrangement might allow him to continue serving the department in a way that’s sustainable and beneficial for all parties involved.
He said operations have continued as normal and that Peters still steps in for 12- and 24-hour shifts, often returning to his roots as a paramedic when needed. Suwannee County shifts of 48 hours on, 96 hours off help balance the load too.
Peters recently advocated for High Springs to keep its fire department amid debates around cutting it to free up the city’s budget. He also helped achieve the departments lowest Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification rating in its history in August.
Mangan said the biggest hurdle right now is a short-staffed department and Peters is actively working to overcome it.
“This too shall pass,” he said. “The people that remain with the High Springs Fire Department, they’re burning the candle at both ends because they’re serving the city they love and the city loves them back.”
Commissioner Tristan Grunder told Mainstreet the city’s goal is to eventually hire a new full-time chief.
But High Springs needs to hire a city manager first. Thursday’s meeting included the final votes to fire former City Manager Jeremy Marshall, and Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Applebee is now serving as interim city manager. The city also hired Leslie Moyer as its new finance director in June.
If continually short-staffed, Grunder said he’s concerned the city won’t be able to keep the fire department operational. But he said he felt confident the right leadership is currently in place to consider all options should that decision need to be made.
“We need to get some stabilization over there. It’s imploding,” Grunder said. “If we keep down the path we’re going, we will not be able to have a fire department.”