TIMES UNION REPORTS – Louis Dreyfus Company showed its appreciation to the Clay Township Fire Department, Claypool, Thursday with a check for $30,000.
In presenting the donation, LDC Plant Manager Gilberto Sifuentes, surrounded by his team, said a month ago the Fire Department had its annual visit with LDC.
“During this visit, we had the opportunity to share with the Fire Department new installations, projects in progress, new capabilities and – most important – we had the opportunity to receive from the Fire Department recommendations to improve (safety at the facility),” he said.
Sifuentes said they take all the recommendations from the Fire Department seriously.
Also during the visit, Sifuentes said LDC learned about the county’s communication tower project to improve communication between emergency services, emergency personnel and dispatch.
“It’s a great project and I understand the county’s investment is close to $4 million,” he said. “It’s a big investment.”
Louis Dreyfus wanted to contribute in some way to the project because of the incredible service the Fire Department provides to the community.
“The number of times that they have been here helping us, trying to solve a situation because things have happened, has been great. Every time they are here, we work together, we receive their help, and, most important, we try to keep our team and their team safe,” Sifuentes said.
He told everyone at the check presentation that “we were able to get good support from the senior leadership of the company. Today we have a check that we want to give to the Fire Department for $30,000. That is a contribution that will help to purchase 15 radios.”
After a round of applause for the donation, Sifuentes recognized the support of the Fire Department to the community and to Louis Dreyfus. He then recognized Todd Lincoln, a LDC employee who also has been a part of the Fire Department for many years.
“We have here a big group of heroes. We know that,” Sifuentes said.
Claypool Fire Chief Rick Hurley thanked Louis Dreyfus for the $30,000 donation.
“You don’t know what a blessing this is, but besides the hours these guys have to put in for classes and training – they go to school for about a year on their own time just to volunteer, so they’re leaving families,” Hurley said. “We’ve eaten a lot of cold dinners together because our families are home eating while we’re out on runs. This is such a blessing because on top of just the training that we do, and the requirements that we have to do, and then have to worry about communications and money and all this other stuff on top of it, it’s just a blessing you guys stepped up. We really do appreciate it because this is one thing we don’t have to worry about.”
Hurley said CFD has applied for grants, just like every other fire department in the county, and they’re waiting to hear back on a lot of those.
“This is a big chunk and we really, really appreciate it. Thank you so much,” he stated.
Hurley said Louis Dreyfus is great to work with when the Fire Department has to come there. “We haven’t had any problems. Your maintenance guys are right on the ball,” he said.
Hurley then paid compliments to Kevin McSherry, Burket fire chief who also has served as president of the Kosciusko Fireman’s Association. Hurley said McSherry put years into “this communication, making this happen for the county. Years! Him and his group have really pushed this to get better communications.”
He said when the CFD comes to Louis Dreyfus, sometimes they can’t talk from the parking lot to the third floor of the building.
“But because of their hard work, we’re going to be able to do that … so I want to say thank you to Kevin, his team that really, seriously put a lot of sleepless nights, spent a lot of time in meetings making this happen. So thank you to Kevin and the county,” Hurley said, generating a round of applause.
Kosciusko County Commissioner Cary Groninger said, “As one of the commissioners, we have been working hard to get this communication tower up. Kevin has been a big part of that. We appreciate all of his efforts for years, prior to even before I was a commissioner.”
He said they were excited about having a 350-foot tower in Claypool, which will improve communications in the southern part of the county.
“We’re excited and we’re really glad to have Louis Dreyfus step up and support a department that could really use that help to be able to get them those radios and fully utilize this new system that we’re implementing here over the next several months. So thank you,” Groninger stated.
McSherry then chimed in, saying, “We did work on this for a long time. This isn’t Louis Dreyfus’s first donation toward it. We were in a bad way three years ago and we needed some money to put (toward) a quick fix and Louis Dreyfus came through with $20,000 at that time. And it did. It got us through to this point, and we’re using that equipment today to get us through. And we appreciate that very much.”
He said his role was to create a “cohesive environment” for 15 fire departments to work together. “And sometimes we do work – all 15 together – in one large need.”
McSherry said it wasn’t until Groninger became commissioner that the Fire Departments’ needs “were really listened to.” Groninger asked some pointed questions and he got answers. “He basically picked up the ball and ran with it to this point.”
McSherry said it will take $1.5 million just to put the radios in the hands of the firemen, on top of the $4 million for the infrastructure.
“So, this price is terrible, but we’re looking at a 25-year fix,” he said. Technology will change, he said, “but we’re on the cutting edge of that technology right now.” He said the system has capabilities “that won’t come into play yet.”
He thanked Louis Dreyfus, Groninger and the whole Kosciusko County government.
