NEWPORT-Newport Fire Chief Randy Ragan faced strong opposition from Alderman Kenny Morgan when the chief asked Council members to consider creating a new assistant chief position in the city's fire department.

Chief Ragan made the request at a workshop City Council members held on Tuesday, March 5.

At Tuesday's workshop, the fire chief asked that the position be created and take effect after Newport Fire Department Battalion Chief Kenny Eisenhower retires on March 16.

Chief Ragan showed Council members a job description for the proposed new position.

City Council member Morgan said he had a hard time approving a new administrative position when other city departments, such as the Street Department and Newport Police Department, are "short of people on the street."

For more details, please see the Thursday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.