Vienna Fire Chief Richard Brannon has set his retirement date for the end of September. 

Chief Brannon announced at a Vienna Township Trustee's meeting Monday evening that his last day will be September 25. 

According to a Facebook post from the Vienna Fire Department, Brannon served as chief for 29 years and 45 years as a firefighter for Vienna Township.

"[Brannon] has served with dignity, bravery, compassion and unmatched loyalty to this community and the firefighters and EMS personnel he leads. In the words of his family and community members, his shoes will be tough to fill," the post reads.

Brannon announced that his last day during a Vienna council meeting on Sept. 9, and that even amid the economic turmoil, this is the best decision for the future of the township.

"[With] the condition this township is in, I don't want to prolong staying when they can actually appoint a new chief," Brannon said. "The new chief can get in on the ground floor with the finance commission, get things moving and hopefully get things in the right direction."

Even after Brannon retires--he's going to work with assistant chief Mike Hagood until the township appoints a new chief.