05-12-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 12, 2003 Chief Fautz thanked the Council for this Resolution which honors those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. He also asked the Council to remember Officer Anthony Ross who is serving in the Persian Gulf as well as Officer Ray Wolfenbarger who is continuing to recover from a gun shot wound he received in the line of duty and who is struggling to return to the job that he loves. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this Resolution, Councilmember Coleman made a motion to adopt this Resolution. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of eight (8) ayes. RESOLUTION NO. 3183 -03 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, HONORING AL "BUDDY" KIRSITS FOR HIS TRULY HEROIC ACTIONS OF SAVING A 53 -YEAR OLD MAN'S LIFE ON APRIL 29, 2003 WHILE OFF -DUTY FROM THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Whereas, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, notes that Al "Buddy" Kirsits has been a member of the South Bend Fire Department for 24 years, with 15 of those years being served as a Battalion Chief, and Whereas, the Common Council recognizes that Buddy's duties have included serving on the Fire Department's Dive Team and the HazMat Team; and being an instructor for Red Cross and the National Instructor for the Personal Watercraft Industry Association; and Whereas, on Tuesday, April 29, 2003, while off -duty and while car - pooling his oldest son, Jonathan and four of his friends from Holy Cross School, Buddy noticed a tremendous amount of black smoke and drove to a home on King Street which was totally engulfed with flames and thick dark smoke; and Whereas, after calling fire dispatch and securing his passengers at a safe location, he was advised that a person was in the home and without hesitation, Al `Buddy" Kirsits kicked down a dead - bolted front door and crawled through thick smoke to rescue a man found inside; and Whereas, the South Bend Common Council recognizes that Al `Buddy" Kirsits moved the bar several notches higher when he "stepped forward and did what had to be done" during this recent emergency situation which threatened loss of life and property. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. On behalf of all citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common Council is extremely proud to commend one of our own, Council Member Al `Buddy" Kirsits, for his heroic