July Fire District Board Meeting

Chris Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  July 16, 2015. The Garden City Fire District Board held its regular monthly meeting.  Present were board members Brian House, Randall Knight, and Howard Pope.  Absent were Jenny England and Perry Wakefield.

The new fire/rescue boat is operational, docked at the government dock in the marina, and is nearly completely fitted out.  The boat does not yet have an infrared radar installed nor its own sets of night vision goggles (they are available quickly from other sources), nor one piece of needed medical equipment.  During trials the boat had a maximum speed of 30 mph and the department feels that it is under powered.  The speed goal of 40+ mph while loaded will require two bigger outboards and Chief Wahlberg indicated he was looking for revenue sources to provide the engine upgrade.  

In an ironic turn of events the very first day the boat was in the water it was used to rescue 4 people from a capsized boat about a half mile north of the marina, during a wind event that produced 4-5 foot waves.  The boat capsize was observed as it happened from the shore and the rescue boat quickly pulled all the swimmers from the water without harm.

The question of radio communication was addressed.  In communicating with the Idaho boats the system has to use older use frequencies found on the Idaho boats and the communication has to go from Utah boats to central dispatch then on to the Idaho boats.  While the A to B to C system is functional it is not as modern as the radios and frequencies used among Utah agencies, personnel, and equipment.

The district accountant, Tiffany Wahlberg, reported on the independent audit of agreed upon procedures required by the state.  This state requirement cost the district $3,000 this year (state mandated) and produced a result of nearly perfect compliance with only two minor adjustments to policy required.

Besides the rescue on the lake there were 6 fires suppressed during the month, the largest being a lightning caused fire near Swan Creek Village.  On that fire, which was brought under control in about 3 hours, there were some minor problems and one major issue with equipment that slowed operations down and all but one problem has been repaired.  The major issue is that the 6 X 6 vehicle used by the department for rough terrain and difficult access situations was broken beyond repair through operator error and is lost to the department.  This is the only vehicle of its kind in the county and a replacement needs to be found.  Chief Wahlberg is looking for a 5 ton model to replace the 2 ½ ton model that was lost. (Note:  Since the meeting the fire department has obtained a 5 ton surplus army vehicle 6 X 6 that will be modified to replace the lost one—but this is a bigger truck.  It was given to the department by the state).