Hillsborough’s Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Jerry Wagner retired this week following 15 years of working with the town.

The town recently shared a release about his retirement to the community, which began on Wednesday.

“Hillsborough is the hometown of my father, so it is was only fitting that I look out for those he knew and loved,” Wagner said in the release. “As assistant fire marshal for Orange County in 1994, I performed the first round of fire inspections ever to be conducted in the town, as the county and town were under a contract for that service then.”

Wagner began working with Hillsborough in September 2005, initially as both a fire marshal and a code enforcement officer. Since the job was reclassified in 2007 to Emergency Management Coordinator, Wagner has coordinated the town’s response to disasters, conducted inspections of facilities and performed fire investigations. Before joining the town staff, he worked as an assistant fire marshal for Orange County, a firefighter with the Mebane Fire Department and was deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the North Carolina Army National Guard.

“I appreciate Jerry’s years of dedicated service to Hillsborough, the county, and our country as a deployed Army National Guard soldier,” wrote Hillsborough Assistant Town Manager and Planning Director Margaret Hauth. “His first thought as he approached a challenging job was always about safety for the public. We all wish him rest and success as he opens a new chapter of his life.”

“One pleasure that has come out of [the COVID-19 pandemic] is I’ve gotten to work with Jerry more closely working on the Town Incident Policy Team together here in his last months with us,” said Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver when speaking with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck. “We’re so appreciative of his service. He is just a really good human and I know he’s going to enjoy his well-deserved retirement.”

According to the release, Hillsborough’s town government is considering several options for Wagner’s long-term replacement to handle fire inspections and building plan reviews, including potentially contracting with Orange County for the services. Through the end of 2020, however, the town says part-time fire inspector David Cates will conduct fire inspections with assistance from the county.

Wagner said in the release he plans to use retirement to teach at a community college and enjoy downtime with his wife and family on a lake, at the ocean or in the mountains.

Photo via the Town of Hillsborough.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
Memorial Day to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County (2025)
The observation of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 will affect multiple local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a complete list of which services in which towns will be moved due to the holiday: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will […]
Orange County Reports Positive Rabies Test on Raccoon in Hillsborough
Orange County Animal Services has reported a positive rabies test on a deceased raccoon found in Hillsborough. On February 3, animal control received a call from a resident reporting their dog coming into contact with the raccoon near Joseph Road, located north of downtown Hillsborough off of Walnut Grove Church Road. The raccoon was retrieved […]
Hillsborough Man Charged With Multiple Counts of Child Exploitation
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Hillsborough man Friday and have charged him with 15 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The sheriff’s office says Christopher M. Watson, 45, turned himself in at the magistrate’s office, immediately posted a $7,500 secure bond and appeared in court Monday afternoon. According to the sheriff’s […]
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Affect Local Government Services (2025)
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Town offices will be closed on Monday. Residential trash normally collected on Monday will be collected on Wednesday, January 22. Curbside recycling […]
Christmas Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2024)
The Christmas holiday will affect several local government services. Here’s a rundown of what Orange County residents can expect.
Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County
Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, Nov. 28 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
Road Races to Affect Traffic in Downtown Hillsborough This Weekend
Road races on Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6 are expected to delay traffic in downtown Hillsborough. Both races are expected to draw more than 800 participants each. On Saturday, the Tarwheels Bike Fest will begin between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. downtown. A police officer will be on site to intermittently stop traffic at […]
Here Are Ways You Can Donate to Local Drives for Hurricane Helene Relief
After Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last week, numerous local organizations, businesses and schools have set up donation drives to help those affected. Below is a list of drives around our area, in alphabetical order by the group: All About Insurance shifted its regular Sock-Tober clothing drive to exclusively support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. […]
Positive Rabies Test Reported on Skunk in Hillsborough; 5th This Year
Orange County Animal Services has announced a positive rabies test on a skunk in Hillsborough. According to a release from OCAS, an altercation involving the skunk and multiple people occurred in the vicinity of Orange Grove Road and New Grady Brown School Road, next to Interstate 40 and Cedar Ridge High School, on September 25. […]
Hog Day Festivities to Impact Traffic Around Downtown Hillsborough
Motorists in Hillsborough should expect heavier traffic than usual this weekend due to the annual celebration of Hog Day at River Park. The park is located at 140 East Margaret Lane, behind the Orange County Courthouse. The stretch of East Margaret Lane between Court and South Cameron Streets will be closed from 4 p.m. to […]
›