The Urbana Civil Service Commission approved a certified eligibility list for entry level firefighter positions during Wednesday.

During its August meeting, the commission authorized initiating the hiring process for entry level firefighter positions after Urbana Fire Chief Mark Keller said the division received a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The $305,232 grant is expected to provide funding for two years, contingent on the division maintaining its staffing at 23 people.

The certified eligibility list includes eight candidates. Keller explained that in addition to two positions funded through the SAFER grant, the division will have a vacancy following the retirement of Capt. Phil Kellenberger on Oct. 25.

The eight candidates on the list in order of highest to lowest scores are Jason Chesser, Neal Page, Ralph Bowman, Caleb Dersch, Christopher Ammons, Adam Nitchman, Joseph Hester and Bryce Kuhn.

The commission also approved a firefighter eligibility list of 15 candidates.

In advance of Kellenberger’s retirement, Keller asked to proceed with the fire captain’s promotional process. The commission approved this action.

As part of the process, applications to participate in the fire captain promotional process are due in the city’s director of administration office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 21. Applicants will be required to pass a written test tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16 and pass another test by the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association tentatively scheduled for Jan. 9, 2016.

Keller said the anticipated selection date is scheduled on or before Feb. 8, 2016.

In other action, the commission approved holding a meeting after written exams are held in the entry level process. Keller suggested this action to break potential ties between applicants before test scores are sent to applicants and before the agility test.