Newly appointed Turkey Creek Fire Department administrative assistant Staci Armbruster prepares to enter her new office in Syracuse Town Hall. She will begin her duties Monday, Jan. 17. Photo by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott announced at the fire and township advisory board meetings Monday, Jan. 10, he has filled the position of administrative assistant by hiring Staci Armbruster, who will begin her employment Monday, Jan. 17.

Armbruster is the inaugural hire of a position the department has never had before, but she comes to the task with a considerable relevant skill set, having worked as deputy clerk for the Town of Syracuse since 2016.

“I am really excited since it is a position they have never had,” she said. “We are just kind of building it together.”

Her office will be located in Syracuse Town Hall.

Armbruster grew up in Warsaw and worked for Pillbox Pharmacy for nine years. She moved to Syracuse in 2009. She has three boys.

Both boards unanimously approved two spending requests: an amount not to exceed $8,000 for six battery chargers, 24 spare batteries and 20 radio straps for the fire department’s new mobile radios and pagers; and $23,150 plus shipping for five battery-powered ventilation fans from Hoosier Fire Equipment Inc.

Fire Board

Scott gave his December report:

• During the month the department responded to 16 fire calls and 118 EMS calls, saving an estimated $150,000 in property from fire damage. For the year, the department responded to 1,574 emergency calls (252 fire and 1,322 EMS), an average of almost five runs a day.

• Department members attended 273 hours of fire and EMS training. Topics included tanker and equipment operation, firefighter distraction drills, SCBA training, fire attack and vehicle placement, auto pulse deployment, cardiac arrest management and medications review.

• Installation of the department’s new radio communications system is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 12.

• Preparations to build a new fire/rescue boat are being finalized by manufacturer PolarKraft in Syracuse. “We should have the final cost estimate available to the board next month,” said Scott. “We did budget funds for this purchase in the 2022 Equipment Replacement Budget.”

• The department held its annual awards banquet Dec. 11. Award winners were Tanner Hunley, most improved firefighter; Quinn Hunter, EMS person of the year and officer of the year; and Matthew Stanley, firefighter of the year.

Township Board

Township Trustee Julie Close announced she would not seek reelection this fall. She urged interested parties to file for their candidacy before the deadline of noon Friday, Feb. 4, at the Justice Building in downtown Warsaw.

The board waived presentation of Close’s monthly written report, as the trustee’s office clerk was ill and had not prepared the paperwork by meeting time. “Next month I will present the December and January reports,” Close said.

The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.