BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Statesville Fire Chief Glenn Kurfees presented his year-end review at Monday’s city council meeting, highlighting the department’s increased call volume and efforts in key areas.

Statesville Fire Department personnel responded to 6,969 calls in 2024, up from 6,339 calls in 2023.

Kurfees told council members the department is continuously working to improve by concentrating on five keys areas – training and development, resource management, community engagement, data-driven decision making and employee wellness and retention.

“We want to expand our training programs to make sure we are always giving them the training that’s needed,” he said.

Resource management, Kurfees said, involves making sure the department has the right tools to do the job.

‘We’ve been very lucky the last couple of years with the support of ya’ll and the city manager to be able to acquire the tools, apparatus and equipment to do our jobs,” he said.

Kurfees said community engagement is important.

“I want to be able to be out in the community. I want our folks out in the community,” he said.

The addition of a fire and life safety instructor and providing CPR classes and fire extinguisher training have helped the department do just that, Kufess said. He hopes to grow those type programs in 2025.

Data-driven decisions, Kurfees said, are vital as well. That means asking for resources with the information necessary to support those requests.

The final goal, he said, is to support employees health and to keep them working at the SFD.

Kurfees also introduced Samantha Moose, the department’s new accreditation manager.

Special Olympics Iredell County

Council  members also heard a presentation from representatives of Special Olympics Iredell County.

Bobbi Williams, local coordinator, expressed her appreciation to the city for its support.

“We are indeed grateful for the support we receive from the City of Statesville. I was a teacher for 20 years and loved that job every single day. I never thought I’d have a career that I enjoyed quite as much, but I have to say this one takes the cake,” she said.

Brett Troutman, a medal-winning Special Olympics athlete, thanked the council and city as well.

Troutman said he’s been an athlete for the past 17 years. He said he was representing more than 3,000 athletes that train and compete in Iredell County.

“My favorite thing about being an athlete with Special Olympics Iredell County is representing my country and my team and showing the world that athletes like me have hopes and dreams just like anybody else,” he said.

Troutman also talked to council members about the upcoming Polar Plunge fundraiser. The event is scheduled for February 15 at the Statesville Leisure Pool. The goal is to raise $20,000, which stays in Iredell County to support local athletes.

Other Business

In a light agenda for the first meeting of 2025, the council, as part of the consent agenda, approved second readings for two subdivisions – Whispering Pines on Williams Road and Barkley Springs Phase 1 on Morland Drive.

The consent agenda, which is approved in one motion unless a council member asks for an item to be removed for further discussion, also included investigating a petition for annexation for several property owners on Mocksville Highway near Warren Road and permanently closing two roads – Cameron Street off Museum Road and International Drive off Davie Avenue.

The items were all approved. A public hearing on the annexation request will be on February 3 and for the road closures on February 17.