To the Garden City Fire District Board and Constituents:
I have enjoyed working for and with the residents of the
Fire District for the past 5 plus years and I feel that the Fire Department has
grown and improved tremendously. I have also enjoyed working with the
volunteers during this time. We have some of the best trained, and equipped
firefighters in the county!
The first 3 years were the most productive years with a fire
board that worked very well together and with me. The past few years have not
been as productive with a very dysfunctional board and one that does not see
eye to eye with me on many issues. I feel that part of the problem with the
board has been, the lack of presence at
the board meetings for some board members. Three board members combined have
not been present at 53% of the meetings which does not help to make educated
decisions on the boards part for the constituents. And we have to remember that
is why we are here, to do what is best for the constituents as a whole, and not
carry our own agendas or the agendas of the few.
When emails are sent
between board members and the secretary and some board members are left out of
the loop and the Fire chief is left out also, we have a problem. If it is going
between board members then it is most likely a fire department issue and even
thought the Fire Chief is not a board member, he is in charge of the Fire
Department and needs to be kept in the loop on all matters.
The reason I have firefighters wanting to get on the board
is because they are very discouraged with the way the present board has been
performing. From my point of view there
is nothing more discouraging then losing a good, highly trained fire fighter to
a board position and this is not good for the constituents either. Remember
that it is their tax dollars that have trained and equipped these firefighters.
I have tried in every way possible to give the constituents
of the district their best value for their tax dollar. I have tried to keep
costs down and spending at a minimum. In the past 5 years we have paid off the
fire station ($200,000.00) even though the impact fees were not there to make
these payments. I cut corners where I could to make the payments. I also have
brought in over $100,000.00 in grants to purchase much needed equipment. For
the most part, the feedback I receive from the constituents is very positive.
I have a couple of very attractive offers at this time in my
career and feel as though I would not be doing my family justice if I did not
pursue these offers. If the Garden City Fire District would like to entertain a
counter offer that could match either of my present offers I would consider
their offer. If the Garden City Fire District chooses not to make an offer then
they can consider this my letter of resignation. If the latter is the outcome
of this letter, then my final day of employment will be the 18th of October
2013.
Sincerely: Dan L. Kurek
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