PERRY -- City Council unanimously approved changes to the fire department staff structure Tuesday that creates three new job classifications and eliminates one other position.

The recommendations “come as a result of, one: the department is now on its own,” said Lee Gilmour, Perry’s city manager. “Also is the fact that you have a second fire station coming on line.”

Fire Chief Joel Gray said the deputy fire chief position will be posted in the new year, and the other two positions will await future funding.

The staff changes are part of a series of changes for the department this year, as it rises from problems in the early 21st century.

Since 2006, fire and police divisions fell under the public safety department. In June, City Council separated the fire and police departments after George Potter, public safety director, retired.

Potter previously oversaw both departments, but council decided the combination was no longer necessary. Gray was promoted to chief.

The city is also building its second fire station of Ga. 127 near Langston Road. It’s a $1.2 million project that has been in the works for years.

Gray said the building should be completed Dec. 15, though it will not be outfitted on that date.

With the changes, City Council found it necessary to restructure staff. In all, there were five changes approved Tuesday.

The firefighter trainee was renamed the recruit firefighter. The fire battalion captain position was eliminated after the employee retired this year.

The new deputy fire chief job classification, funded through the retired battalion captain position, has a salary range of $51,400 to $70,400.

The new fire battalion chief has a salary range of $46,600 to $64,100. And the new fire captain has a salary range of $41,800 to $52,700.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, council accepted the list of street resurfacing projects the state Department of Transportation will fund. The $126,400 resurfacings include Frank Satterfield and Gurr roads.

To contact writer Christina M. Wright, call 256-9685.