Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory EMS Chief Chris Fancil requests permission from WWFT’s board to accept a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for the C.A.R.E.S. program. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The hiring process for a new Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory chief is still ongoing, according to Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer.

Thallemer shared parting comments with WWFT Chief Garrett Holderman during a Feb. 7 WWFT board meeting. Holderman tendered his resignation to the city in mid-January, citing personal family reasons as his motive for moving back to Arizona.

“Garrett has done a great job making some changes, primarily in the development of leadership within the organization, which was a high priority of mine when we hired him,” said Thallemer to Holderman. “We’re very thankful for the year he’s given us. I know it was a very difficult decision, but you put your family first and everyone certainly understands that.”

“It was not an easy decision but I know in my heart it was the right one, and I’ve been reminded of that with everyone I’ve had this conversation with,” said Holderman. “My time here has been fantastic. If I could take (WWFT) and all you guys back to Arizona, I’d do it in a heartbeat because of the passion, humility, and love they bring to the job.”

Thallemer said the city expects to name a new chief the week of Feb. 13.

In other business, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory received permission from the board to accept a $7,500 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for establishing online resource pages for the C.A.R.E.S. program.

EMS Chief Chris Fancil said the grant will assist the program with establishing a resource page on the Internet and a phone app to better organize available resources for those in need in Kosciusko County. WWFT will work with 1Eighty Digital on the project.

Fancil also requested permission to apply for a state grant for naloxone doses. WWFT has received this grant in particular multiple times, obtaining 300 naloxone doses and acting as a distribution hub for the county’s first responder agencies. The board gave Fancil permission to apply.

Both of Fancil’s requests will now go before the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety for final approval on Feb. 17.

The WWFT board’s next meeting is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 7.