South Davis Fire District officials don't like the anonymous nature of a letter circulated last week but say they can't ignore some of the points it makes.

The letter, which claims to be written by several district employees, says:- Morale and training have decreased since Chief John Speed took over two years ago.

- Equipment at the district, which serves about 60,000 residents in south Davis County, is old and unsafe.

- A college student program slows response time "greatly."

- Maintenance at the department's three stations is poor.

- The district's proposed budget doesn't address the problems. Instead, it suggests hiring three more full-time firefighters.

The letter was mailed last Tuesday to newspapers, district board members and the city councils of the four cities in the district.

"It's obviously that some part-time employees aren't happy about some things that have gone on. But they raise some very valid points," said Francine Giani, city councilwoman for Centerville. "I do think it's pathetic that they are so afraid of their bosses that they can't sign the letter."

Giani planned to discuss the letter with her fellow council members this week.

Speed agrees some points of the letter are valid but says some are inaccurate. He wishes it was signed.

"This district has gone through some bad times, no question about it. Some people thought I was a miracle worker when I got here and I guess they're disappointed that I couldn't turn it around so quickly . . . but I don't understand why they won't face me."

He said the letter's points about building maintenance are valid but concerns about unsafe equipment, delayed response times and lack of training are not.

The district has posted at least a half-dozen notices for training at the United States Fire Academy since Speed has been chief, he said.

The Maryland-based academy costs the district only the price of meals for attending employees.

"We're more than willing to send any part-time employee who wants to go, but to date none of them have shown an interest."

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Speed said maintenance at the department's three buildings, particularly its station in Centerville, is lacking.

But other matters have higher priority.

The roof at the Centerville station had leaked after heavy rains but has been patched.

Regarding "unsafe" equipment, Speed said, "All of our equipment meets every safety standard for the industry. Some of our reserve pumpers are scheduled to be replaced in the next four or five years, but they haven't completed their length of service."

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