(a)   The Garnett Volunteer Fire Department is hereby organized and shall consist of firefighters, a Fire Chief, and reserve firefighters.

(b)   Regular and reserve firefighters shall be elected by the other regular firefighters, as needed from time to time to maintain full strength of the department, from applicants approved and submitted by the Fire Chief. The procedures for such applicants to follow and the vote shall be as established in the bylaws. Regular firefighters shall be not less than eighteen (18) nor more than fifty (50) years of age at the time of appointment.

(c)   The Garnett Volunteer Fire Department shall adopt such rules and bylaws as from time to time are necessary and convenient for the department’s governance. However, before any such rules, bylaws or amendments thereto shall become effective, they first shall be approved by the City Manager and the Governing Body. A current and complete copy of all such rules and bylaws shall at all times be on file with the City Clerk.

(d)   Recognizing that the members of the Garnett Volunteer Fire Department are not regular employees of the City of Garnett, nevertheless the provisions of the Garnett Personnel Policy Guide shall apply to the greatest extent practical.

(Code 1961, 3-2-1; Ord. 3709; Ord. 4202; Code 2023)

(a)   The Garnett volunteer fire department shall be under the direction of the Fire Chief, who shall be appointed by the City Manager and shall serve at the City Manager’s pleasure.

(b)  

(1)   The Fire Chief shall have such powers and authority as conferred upon him by the laws of Kansas, the provisions of the uniform fire code then in force in the City of Garnett, Kansas, and the rules and bylaws of the Garnett volunteer fire department.

(2)   The Fire Chief shall have the full power, control and command of all persons present at a fire or other emergency scene to which the department is called and shall direct the use of the fire apparatus and equipment and shall command the firefighters in the discharge of their duties.

(3)   The Fire Chief is authorized to make and enforce reasonable rules and regulations for the prevention and control of fires and fire hazards, consistent with Kansas law and the provisions of the uniform fire code, as adopted by the city of Garnett. Such rules shall be in writing and shall be first approved by the City Manager. A true and correct copy thereof shall be on file with the City Clerk at all times.

(c)   The Fire Chief shall be deemed a department head for purposes of the Garnett personnel policy guide. With regard to matters of firefighter discipline, the Fire Chief may act summarily to suspend any regular or reserve firefighter during the time of fire or actual emergency. Thereafter, or in other nonemergency situations, the city’s discipline policy shall apply and shall be followed in dealing with firefighter discipline issues.

(d)   Such assistant Fire Chiefs and other inferior officers shall be appointed or elected as provided in the department’s bylaws. Each shall have the authority and perform the duties as either directed by the Chief or as provided in the bylaws. There shall be no more than two (2) assistant Chiefs, no more than two (2) fire captains and no more than two (2) fire lieutenants. Not more than two (2) firefighters may be designated as a safety officer in accordance with NFPA 1500 whose duties shall include seeing that a safe working environment is maintained and to assist the other officers and the department in assessing and minimizing risks of injury or death to personnel.

(e)   The Fire Chief is hereby authorized, subject to the approval of the City Manager, to enter into one or more mutual aid agreements with any township, city or county to furnish outside the Garnett city limits firefighting services or equipment to such township, city or county upon such terms and conditions as are fair and reasonable. To the extent not endangering the fire protection available to the city of Garnett, the Garnett volunteer fire department will lend assistance to the rural and neighboring communities’ fire departments when requested under such mutual aid agreements.

(Code 1961, 3-2-2; Ord. 3709; Code 2023)

Reserve firefighters shall not report for duty except when notified to do so by the Fire Chief, or in the Chief’s absence, by another ranking department officer then in charge, or by the City Manager. A reserve firefighter shall receive no pay for services to the city or the department except when called as provided in this section. Whenever such a call is made, and the reserve firefighter responds and performs duties as a firefighter, he or she shall be compensated at the same rate as a regular firefighter.

(Code 1961, 3-2-3; Ord. 3709; Code 2023)

The Fire Chief and each regular member of the Garnett volunteer fire department shall be compensated as provided from time to time in a resolution of the Governing Body. Such rates of compensation shall be reviewed at least annually at the time the regular city budget is prepared.

(Code 1961, 3-2-4; Ord. 3709; Code 2023)