WARSAW — The Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Board honored two of its founding board members during the meeting held yesterday, Dec. 4.

Sheila Burner has served as Wayne Township Trustee for 12 years and has decided to retire at the end of this year. She helped form the original Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Board in 2009. Since then, she has been a large part in helping the territory receive many of its apparatuses and the addition of Fire Station 3.

Since Burner is not continuing her service as the Wayne Township Trustee, her board position will transfer to future Trustee Jeanie Stackhouse.

Burner was unable to be present at the meeting, so board members decided to take a trip to her house after the meeting to deliver a plaque and thank her for her service. Mayor Joseph Thallemer and Fire Chief Mike Wilson presented Burner with a photo of the three of them captioned, “we both know who the real boss is,” referring to Burner. “That’s really the truth,” joked Bruner.

“We all wanted to come down and show our appreciation for all the time you’ve served,” said Thallemer. “You’ve served not only the fire territory and the township but the entire community. You’re right up there with the best and I think we all feel that way.”

During the meeting, Thallemer shared more about Burner’s dedication and service. “She’s been a very important part of this board, representing the township, the formation of the fire territory, the acquisition of the land and the building of the fire station. She’s served Wayne Township residents very well … I will certainly miss her on the board and am most appreciative of everything she’s done for the township, for the fire territory and for our community.”

Joseph Streeter has also served on the board since its creation in 2009. He completed the original five-person board after he was appointed as the independent community member. His main duty on the board was to help settle any disagreements that may arise between the city and township representatives as an unbiased third party.

“I met Mr. Streeter riding in the back of an ambulance. Joe’s daughter was a paramedic at the old multi-township EMS and Joe would come in and voluntarily drive and ride with that ambulance crew to give them a third body,” shared Wilson. “Didn’t get paid a dime for doing it, but that was his dedication to helping our community. And that’s how I met Joe and learned that Joe enjoyed and wanted to help emergency services and he understood our side of the fence … thank you for your dedication to the EMS world … don’t be a stranger.”

Streeter recently moved out of the fire territory district and therefore had to resign from his position. His replacement is expected to join the board in January.

Mike Klondaris and Gordon Nash were reappointed to serve the board in 2019. The board also formally approved Fire Chief Mike Wilson to remain in his position for the upcoming year.

Wilson wanted to remind community members to check the batteries in both their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and make sure their furnaces are in proper working order.