Garden City Fire Board Meeting

Anita Weston

GARDEN CITY, Utah. April 20, 2017.  Randall Knight, Fire Board Member,  took the GRAMA class on line and passed the required exam.  He noted that it took some time to get through this project.

The County short term rental inspections that are in the Garden City Fire District are being done by Garden City’s fire chief.  He currently is collecting the $30 fees when he does the inspection and then submits the money and a copy of the receipt to the County.  He hopes that this will work for them.  This is a new thing for the County, and they didn’t have any set procedures. 

Chief Wahlberg noted that he has done 373 inspections since September, 2016, to now.  Because the inspections need to be done each year in order to renew their short term rental license, there are always a large number of inspection requests made close to the new year.

All the fire vehicles are in good order except truck 40.  It is in Smithfield being serviced.  It should be done soon.

The rescue boat will be launched fairly soon.  All of the regular equipment will be put on board when it is launched.

The responses for this month include five medical assists, and one agency assist.

Bridgerland is no longer holding classes for firemen training.  They have added classes to the training that makes it possible for those enrolled to gain an associate degree and move onto a college or university if they so desire.  Chief Wahlberg didn’t think English language skills and other such requirements are needed by the City’s volunteers.

He approached the individuals who have taught the classes in the past to see if they would be willing to come to Garden City and train as usual.  There are two classes that are needed—Firemen 1 and Firemen 2.  Chief Wahlberg thought that one could be taught one year and the other the next year.  He would need at least 8 individuals in order to bring the teachers over so that the expenses would fall within the budget.

Chief Wahlberg noted that there are four individuals in Garden City who currently need the training.  Laketown has another two individuals.  There may be others in the County.  He noted that individuals from Bear Lake County and Montpelier City can also be invited to attend these classes.  He is hopeful that he will be able to get the classes going and have enough students to make it feasible.

Chief Wahlberg reported that there will be a training taking place in June over at Crawford Mountain.  It is being sponsored in partnership with Rich County Search and Rescue and Garden City Firemen.  There will be a mock hang glider accident.  Those individuals attending this training will be taught the best actions to take in this type of situation.

On May 6, there will be an Emergency Preparedness Training program.  Hopefully, many in the community will come and participate.  It begins at 11 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m.  The program is being sponsored by CERT and the Garden City Fire District.  Any other organizations that are interested are certainly welcome and hopefully would like to help.  Bear River Health and both of the Garden City Wards have indicated they are willing to participate..

Garden City Fire District actually needs more room and more housing for equipment.  Expansion is limited by the amount of the land the Fire District has.  It was suggested that perhaps the Fire District could work with the City in purchasing additional land that could enhance both organizations.