Mayor Chuck Burtcher summed up Tuesday evening’s Guthrie City Council meeting with “this is a great night.”
Fire Chief Eric Harlow and Mayor Chuck Burtcher recognized Rodney Davison (left) and Charles Stowe (right) for their 25 years of service and retirement. Photo By Chris Evans
The Mayor, City Manager, council members and a crowded city chamber watched Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow honored two retiring Battalion Chiefs and promoted six team members in the department.
Harlow acknowledged Rodney Davison and Charles Stowe as outgoing battalion chiefs. Both chiefs joined the department in 1987 and worked their way to their current position.
Davison, who at one time served as an interim fire chief, served in the Army National Guard and is currently with the U.S. Army Reserves. At the department, both Davison and Stowe served as EMS and Training Coordinators.
“In the profession such as ours, the experience is golden and we place a very high value on it,” Harlow said on the 50-plus years of experience between Davision and Stowe.
“It will virtually be impossible to fill these two men’s shoes once they are gone.”
With two vacancies to fill, Harlow announced six promotions within the department. The new positions will be effective on Feb. 1.
Captains Rob Bukofzer and Erin Jones were each promoted to battalion chief. Bukofzer joined the department in Aug. 1990 and will be the shift commander for the Green Team.
Jones joined GFD in Feb. 1993 and will command the Blue Team.
Lieutenants Dale Haggard and Jaime Maker were promoted to Captains. Haggard, who joined GFD in Nov. 2001, will move to the Blue Team while Maker (Jan. 2002) will remain with the Red Team.
Firefighters Mike Nivens and Ryan Reeves advanced to the lieutenant position. Nivens joined the force in Jan. 2003 while Reeves joined in May 2007.
With each promotion being announced, a designated family member pinned their new badge to their uniform. Harlow then presented each member with their new designated fire helmet.
On Dec. 16 the department tested 20 individuals in the classroom and in the field to help fill the two firefighter positions. Related story: Applicants go through firefighter drills; department to fill two positions
During the business portion of the meeting:
– council awarded a bid ($55,560.48) to HTM Underground of Blanchard to install air relief and blow off valves that run raw water line from Guthrie Lake to the Water Treatment Plant.
– approved Profersional Services Agreement with Dr. Robert William Worden to serve as Medical Director for Guthrie EMS.
– agreed to waive the $30 fee for the Logan County Girls Scouts to use Highland Hall on Feb. 23 for their annual World Thinking Day Event.
– approve d to implement the Exercise for Fines program at the Guthrie Public Library.
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