St. Paul Park names Mike Kramer fire chief and ends three‑year internal election

The St. Paul Park City Council on June 1 unanimously approved appointing Mike Kramer as the city's fire chief and ending the department's prior three‑year internal election process for the role. The council vote passed 5-0.

City Administrator Hugo told the council that the previous selection process had been an internal election among volunteer or paid-on-call firefighters that lasted three years. "Prior to tonight's motion and discussion, the process for electing our fire chief was essentially an internal process with the volunteer or paid on call firefighters and would last for three years," Hugo said, adding the city wanted a more formalized process as it grows.

Following the vote the council conducted the oath of office. Mike Kramer repeated the oath to "enforce the laws of the United States, of the state of Minnesota, and the ordinances of the City of St. Paul Park, impartially and with honor and integrity," and swore to "faithfully discharge the duties of fire chief." Council Member Whit Hemson presented Kramer with a pin recognizing his 20-plus years of service.

Kramer declined to make additional remarks at the podium. The council moved on to the rest of the agenda and invited attendees to refreshments after the swearing-in.

Next steps: With the formal appointment complete, Kramer will serve as the city's designated fire chief under the new appointment process; no further council action on the appointment was recorded at the meeting.