Fort Wright Fire Chief Steve Schewe will take on double duty as interim city administrator when Jill Cain Bailey, the city's chief administrative officer for eight years, retires August 31.

Bailey confirmed the arrangement in an interview with the NKY Tribune published July 26, saying Schewe will fill in "until the city can put a new CAO in place." Mayor Dave Hatter is drafting the job advertisement for Bailey's successor, though no timeline for the search has been announced.

The move puts a fire chief who has led the department since 2001 at the helm of a city of roughly 5,850 residents while simultaneously running a fire-EMS operation with eight full-time and approximately 15 part-time staff members.

Who is Steve Schewe?

Schewe has been with the Fort Wright Fire Department since 1984 and was appointed fire-EMS chief on September 12, 2001, according to the city's management staff page. He is a lifelong Fort Wright resident who also served on city council from 1992 through 1998.

His credentials include an associate degree in fire science, National Registry EMT certification, Deputy Kentucky State Fire Marshal designation, and certifications as a hazardous materials technician and fire inspector. As recently as the April 1 city council meeting, Schewe introduced a new full-time firefighter/paramedic, Glenn Caminiti, to the council.

No information has been released about who will handle day-to-day fire department leadership while Schewe serves as interim administrator.