Eudora ? The city of Eudora will search for a new fire chief after Randy Ates announced his resignation following three and a half years of service.

Ates, whose resignation will be effective Jan. 15, said he believes this is a good time to move on and is seeking a similar position at a larger department.

“Eudora has that classic struggle of new versus old. The fire department had to grow, and that is why I was brought in,” Ates said. “Things are going good, we’re in an economic slowdown right now, the department isn’t having to grow as fast … so I thought this would be a good time to expand my horizons.”

Ates said he was brought in to help expand the volunteer department and to help salvage the EMS/first responder program. He is proud he has been able to further modernize the department, which has doubled its volunteer staff in three years.

“I still want to be a fire and EMS director. … I don’t want to get away from the volunteers. I enjoy working with them,” he said.

Ates said he thinks the timing of his departure will have the least impact on the department and the city.

The job opening has not yet been posted, and the city’s next step will be to put in place an interim fire chief.