Gracey Resigns From Garden City Fire Board

Chris Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  September 25, 2014.  The Garden City Fire District governing board held its monthly meeting September 25, 2014.  Present were Perry Wakefield, Randall Knight, Christina Gracey, and Howard Pope.  Brian House was absent.  There has been some remodeling in the station.  New carpet and other improvements are completed or underway.

In follow up action from previous meetings, board members and Chief Mike Wahlberg reported that none of the three items of (1) obtaining legal counsel for personnel review,  (2) completing a set of procedures for fire boat operations, (3) and obtaining bids on the proposed storage shed have been completed. 

The state imposed fire restrictions for unincorporated areas are still in effect until removed by the state.  In incorporated Garden City, Chief Wahlberg will begin to grant burn permits Oct. 1.

Chief Wahlberg and Tom Wahlberg reported on their training courses in Emmitsburg, Maryland, which both reported as being valuable and extensive.

Tiffany Wahlberg discussed the financial statements for the district.  She said that several months ago the state and the district went through a set of “agreed upon procedures” and the district is in compliance.  She indicated that the district had $330,000 in cash on hand.  Funds exceeding $180,000 in cash on hand must have a dedicated purpose and the board and Chief Wahlberg said that the highest priorities for the funds are self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), further improvement of the building, personal protective gear, and mobile equipment (firefighting trucks).

Citing family responsibilities, Christina Gracey said she was resigning from the governing board effective at the end of the current meeting.  The meeting proceeded without comment.

Chief Wahlberg indicated that a new ISO rating process was about to occur.  It is a measure of both fire danger and the local ability to handle and suppress fires.  Chief Wahlberg said that it used to be the primary method insurance companies used to rate fire danger and firefighting capacity (and hence insurance rates) but that in his recent experience most insurance companies are now directly talking to him about specifics in the district.