September Fire Board Meeting

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  September 19, 2013.  Chief Dan Kurek reported that application can be now made for the wild land grant.  Tender funds have been used for turnouts.  The bills for the new turnouts will arrive in about 6 - 8 weeks because GSA is slow to handle grant money.  Some structural items will also be purchased. 

One mock three pump has been approved.  It will cost about $3,200.  A backpack pump is also being considered.  Two flashlights, for helmets and/or the font of the uniform, will be purchased.  The firefighters will have an opportunity to work with them and decide which they would prefer to have before ordering all of the lamps for the firefighters.

Extrication turnouts would be nice to have.  The recommended cost about $800.  However, coveralls cost about $120 a pair at Cal Ranch and would probably do a good job.  They are actually tougher and a lighter weight than the regulation turnouts.

The tender snap tank, paint and so forth can be purchased using revenue from the breakfast.  Money has been set aside for the tent requested by the Young Women in the First Ward.  It will cost about $189. 

A written policy has been completed dealing with drug testing. 

Chief Kurek noted that Laketown firefighters need turnouts.  Since Garden City firefighters have new ones and have turned in their previous turnouts, it was suggested that Laketown come down and fit all of the firefighters with the older turnouts.  Those turnouts not currently needed and can be kept at the station to be used when necessary.

Concrete has been poured in front of the fire station.  Asphalt now needs to be laid down on the roadways.  It was noted that a surveyor determined that the fire district actually owns five more feet on the east of the current fence.  If the district claims that land, the trees and five power poles will have to be removed in order to asphalt the entire possible roadway.  The Fire Board said to leave things as they are.  The contractor will begin putting down the asphalt on Monday.

Joey Stocking is in charge of the Fire District web site.  He has started to work on the site and will get things finished in the near future.  The old web site was not user friendly.  It was difficult to add pictures, agendas, minutes, and so forth.  The new one should be much easier to use and will be ready soon.

There have been several firefighters who have completed certifications in hazmat operations, firefighter I, and so forth.  This helps and adds additional people available to assist in an emergency.

The brush truck needs a front end alignment.  More shelves have been added to Engine 40.  All trucks are started weekly and are in good condition.

Responses for the month include the last truck rollover accident.  That accident has been billed for $2,933.99. There was also a downed power line, a CO call that determined the detectors were faulty, a pre-school inspection, six fire pit inspections, and 5 medical assists.

A Wallentine boy is going to refinish the Fire Station Sign.  He is also going to put lights on the sign to drawn more attention to the Fire Station.  Conduit was run under the cement so that it will be easy to add the lights.  This is an eagle project for him.

The new Board secretary is Randall Knight.  He completed the GRAMA test online.  He registered prior to taking the exam and got authorization from Terry Allen.  However, upon completion, no certificate was available to print.  Mr. Knight began making telephone calls to find out what had happened.  He reported that Ben Negus was not listed as the previous secretary and thought that he had had the same problem.  Mr. Knight, however, followed through until he was able to get his certification and is registered as the secretary to the Garden City Fire District.

Chief Kurek noted that several of the board members must not be too interested in their position on the board and quoted the following information: Out of 11 meetings, Terry Allen had missed 18.1%, Travis Hobbs had missed 41%, Ben Negus had missed 64%, Christina Gracey had missed 54%, and Randall Knight had missed 0%.

At that point in the meeting, Dan Kurek read a letter of resignation to the Board.  At that point, the board members present decided that a special meeting needed to be called to consider that particular matter and the meeting adjourned.