A Sad And Shameful Day For Garden City Fire District

Editorial

It is a sad and shameful day
for the Garden City Fire District

 

Dan Kurek
 

Currently the Garden City Fire District has one of the best fire departments in the entire multi-county region. Chief Dan Kurek has written grants that have brought in funds to buy engines, brush trucks, life-saving equipment, and to pay for long-term and extensive firefighter training so that no taxes have had to be raised since he was hired.  During his tenure the entire debt of purchasing the fire station from Garden City has been retired. Kurek has not only overseen the efforts that have made the Garden City Fire District become a first rate organization, but has done many things outside the district and for the entire County.  Woodruff now has a fire truck, its first.  That truck came as a result of Chief Kurek making arrangements through some of his prior fire department connections to make that happen.   
 

Modern 800 MhZ radios that allow emergency workers to communicate with each other are another result of Chief Kurek’s efforts.  He has made sure that the best equipment has been purchased and had tried to make the radios available to all of the mergency service groups within the county.

 

Garden City Fire District recently received a grant that allowed the firemen to obtain new turnouts (personal protective gear).  Since turnouts are not private property, but owned by the Fire District, the old turnouts were handed back to the department.  Many are still in good condition and have plenty of service life left in them.  Kurek suggested that many Laketown firemen need turnouts.  He requested the board make the turnouts available to Laketown and that they be invited to come and get fitted with the turnouts that are at the Garden City Fire Station. 

Chief Kurek is especially good at training.  Every time classes are offered, any interested individuals throughout the County have been invited and could have taken advantage of the opportunity to become certified in the different facets of firefighting.  On a separate public safety issue, emergency medical technicians have been sorely needed in the County.  Kurek set up classes, brought in necessary instructors when needed and made opportunities available to many individuals to become qualified EMTs.  Kurek, himself, is an Advanced EMT.  

 

It has been exciting for the citizens of Garden City to watch the growth and progress that has been made by the Fire District here.  Individuals know that if there is a problem, response will be immediate, massive, and professional.   For example, is there a fire department anywhere that could have saved half of Dave and Julie Stringham’s house, as the department did in their fire?  Or responded last summer in minutes to potentially devastating wildfires on the Sweetwater hill, as the department did?  Or saved a life on the east side of the lake as they did this summer using extrication equipment only they had? There is a feeling of pride when we drive by the Fire Station and see the equipment and trucks available to help in an emergency.  It also gives everyone a sense of well-being to know that if there is any emergency where the ambulance is needed, there are enough people trained to handle those types of situations.

 

Thus, it was with sorrow and regret to hear that Chief Kurek has resigned from the Fire Department because of the actions of a board that had a small but vocal group of inept members.  A small subset of the board members began requiring Chief Kurek to spend certain hours at the fire station whether there were things he needed to do elsewhere or not, and then chastised him for working longer hours during other times. There was no pleasing them.  They began micro-managing to the extent that the successful and professional Kurek could no longer make the necessary decisions or do what was required to continue to allow the Department to grow and to become better and better.   

Not only were these 3 board members demanding and dictatorial, but they insisted on compliance in an unprofessional and cutting way.  It is understandable that he is resigning. No individual should be treated in that manner.  It is interesting to note that this small group of 3 board members also had the highest absenteeism rate from the fire board meetings. All of these board members were appointed by the county commissioners. 

Garden City could lose an individual who has made a tremendous contribution to the betterment and welfare of the entire district.  Garden City is losing a tremendous asset.  The County is also losing someone who cares about others and was always willing and wanting to help.

These are Chief Kurek's certifications: Firefighter I, Firefighter II,
Wildland I, Instructor I, Inspector I, CPR Certified, CPR Instructor, EMT Advanced, EMT Instructor, Rescue Tech, Certification Tester, ADO-Pumper, Squad Boss, Hazmat Awarness, Hazmat Operations.

 

There has been one change of the board and two of the current members have exceeded the meeting absences allowed and should be required to resign. Kurek’s letter follows.