Cottage Grove names Redenius new fire chief

• Rick Redenius

Deputy Fire Chief Rick Redenius was appointed as the Cottage Grove Fire Department's new chief at Wednesday's City Council meeting. Bulletin photo by Jon Avise.

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The Cottage Grove City Council on Wednesday appointed Deputy Fire Chief Rick Redenius as the department’s next leader.

Redenius, a St. Paul Park police officer and current part-timer on the Cottage Grove Fire Department, was selected following a multi-step interview process and was unanimously recommended for appointment by the city’s Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission from a pool of five candidates.

He will replace retired chief Bob Byerly, who stepped away from the post in August.

A longtime Cottage Grove firefighter and member of the department since he was a part of the youth Fire Explorers program in the 1980s, Redenius “came out far and above anybody else” in the search process, Mayor Myron Bailey said.

As fire chief and deputy public safety director, Redenius’ salary will start at $84,480 during a one-year probationary period. He officially assumes the role Nov. 26.

“It has been a lifelong dream, I guess, since ’83 when I joined the Fire Explorers,” Redenius said.

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