Mansell reconsiders retirement, will remain RFD Chief

At a special called meeting Tuesday,  the Russellville City Council unanimously approved a request from Russellville Fire Department Chief Joe Mansell to rescind his retirement, effectively immediately.

Mansell, who has served as chief the past 23 years, was set to retire effective September 30, 2025.

At a meeting in October 2024, the council unanimously approved hiring Randy Seal as the new chief effective October 1, 2025. But Tuesday’s action by the council negated that hiring. Once Mansell’s retirement was rescinded, there was no longer a vacancy to fill.

Councilman Darren Woodruff made the motion at Tuesday’s meeting, seconded by Councilman Jamie Harris, followed by a unanimous vote.

At the council’s October 21, 2024 meeting, it was Woodruff who made the motion to hire Seal, seconded by Councilman Gary Cummings.

At Tuesday’s special called meeting, the council immediately went into Executive Session to discuss the one agenda item, described as ‘Fire Department.’

After a 56-minute Executive Session, the council reconvened and City Attorney Danny McDowell said during the Executive Session that personnel was discussed involving the good name and character of individuals, but no vote or action was taken.

The motion to accept Mansell’s request was approved and the meeting was adjourned.

Seal attended Tuesday’s meeting along with more than a dozen firefighters. 25 minutes into the Executive Session, the council requested Mansell to come into the conference room where the Executive Session was taking place.

Mansell exited about 20 minutes later and the council ended the Executive Session within five minutes.

Mansell said he was contacted by multiple council members asking if he would consider staying on.

Additionally, some of his employees also encouraged Mansell to reconsider his retirement.

“I was asked if I would consider staying and some of the guys came to me and said we’ve started a lot of things in our department and they want to see those finished,” Mansell, who recommended Seal as his successor last year, told the FFP Tuesday.

Seal, just one week from ascending to RFD Chief, said he completely supported Mansell’s decision.

“I told him I’m 100% in favor and I’ll support him as long as he wants to stay,” Seal said. “He’s been in that position 23 years and built this department to what it is today and if he believes that’s best for the department for him to stay, I’m 100% behind his decision.”

Once the special meeting notice posted Monday, speculation and rumors about what the council would do at the meeting swirled within the department, but in the end, Mansell’s decision obviated any issues about the chief position.

The council’s action did not specify a timeline of how long Mansell would stay, nor did he offer a fixed number of days or months.

Mansell, from the time he first announced his plans to retire, received encouragement from city officials and fire department employees to reconsider. But until Tuesday’s meeting, there was no indication he was considering remaining on the job.

Previously, Mansell said he would serve the department in a part-time position once his retirement as chief took effect.

Whenever the time comes for Mansell to retire, Seal said he was unsure if he would apply for the position.

“That’s a decision I’ll make at that time if that happens. We’ll just see how much time has passed and see what is the best decision for me, my family and this department,” Seal said.