BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- At the close of Assistant Fire Chief Russ Merhaut's 39-plus-year career with the Brunswick Division of Fire, Chief Greg Glauner said the hardest thing to know was where to start thanking him.

"He has his hands in everything," Glauner said at the May 19 City Council meeting.

Glauner said Merhaut was planning to retire four years ago when Glauner persuaded him to stay on as assistant chief.

At that time, the city was on the verge of opening a new centrally located fire station.

Glauner said Merhaut has been instrumental in overseeing the project, which will allow the city to respond to up to three calls simultaneously and provide safe, up-to-date living quarters for fire personnel.

Glauner said Merhaut's attention to the project to build a station "he is not going to spend one day (working) in" is a testament to his dedication to the department.

He also noted Merhaut's leadership in the department's creation of a firefighter's memorial, named in honor of firefighter Ron Novak, and the purchase of new battery-operated extraction tools, a new exhaust system on fire apparatus and new vehicle purchases including a pumper, medical unit, command unit and pickup truck.

Glauner said Merhaut has also overseen a revised dispatch system, alarm notification redundancy and the addition of two new members of the department.

He said Merhaut's contributions are "too numerous to list them all."

"This morning, Russ came back to work after being off a week," Glauner said, adding with a laugh.

"I think he was joking, but I told him, 'We have had a really busy week' and he said, 'You didn't have a busy week, I just wasn't here.'"

Glauner said as the city begins its search for a new assistant chief, Merhaut also commented that many of the candidates have more credentials than him and will undoubtedly raise the bar.

"How can anyone give more than you, Russ, when you have given your all? You set the standard," Glauner said.

"I've got 43 years' service working for Cleveland and Brunswick and I have worked with well over 1,000 firefighters," he said.

"Take it from me -- they don't make them any better than Assistant Chief Russ Merhaut."

Merhaut began his career in Brunswick as a part-time firefighter in 1986. He became a full-time firefighter/paramedic in 1997, lieutenant in 2003 and assistant chief in 2021.

He was named Firefighter of the Year in 2008.

Merhaut said he was filled with "gratitude, pride and a deep sense of respect for the people I've had the privilege to work with."

He thanked the city administration, police department and his "brothers in the fire department."

"You are the heart and soul of this profession," he said to his fellow firefighters. "I have seen your courage, strength and dedication up close ... It has been an absolute privilege to serve alongside all of you."

He urged his colleagues to "never stop learning (and) always be humble."

Merhaut gave special thanks to Glauner.

"You have been so much more than a boss. You have been a mentor and, most importantly, a friend," Merhaut said.

"I have learned so much from you, not only about being a better fire officer, but about being a better person ...

"I will always carry the lessons and memories of these years with me."