Forest Park proclaims hometown athlete Saniyah Fagan; fire chief introduces new EMS hires

The Forest Park City Council used part of its May 19 meeting to recognize local achievements and introduce new public-safety staff.

The council presented a proclamation honoring Saniyah Nicole Fagan, a Forest Park High School alumna, for her college and international basketball accomplishments and for being selected in the 2025 WNBA draft. The proclamation read in the meeting packet noted Fagan’s graduation from Forest Park High School in 2021, her academic honors at the University of South Carolina, and her participation on U.S. teams in international competition. The proclamation recognized Fagan and wished her success in her professional career.

Saniyah Fagan attended the meeting with family; council members and attendees offered congratulations. The proclamation text in the agenda packet cited the athlete’s selection in the 2025 WNBA draft on April 14, 2025 and listed collegiate honors recorded in the packet.

Separately, Fire Chief Keith Clemons introduced several new hires to the Forest Park Fire Department and EMS division, naming paramedics Alex Mims, Donald Hubbard, Vandora Steiner, Reggie Perkins and Patrick Stewart and EMS lieutenants Janiyah Davis and Alfred “AJ” Smith. Chief Clemons and council members praised the department’s hiring push and the new staff briefly addressed the council.

City staff also said they held a recent budget retreat and reported the city begins fiscal 2025–26 with a balanced budget, no personnel reductions and a conservative revenue forecast. The staff summary was presented in lieu of a longer city manager’s report; the city manager was not present.

Ending: Council members praised public-safety hiring and congratulated Fagan; staff said the budget retreat results will guide implementation of city projects for the coming fiscal year.