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Mantorville fire chief to step down; council accepts two retirements and a $40,000 radio grant
Summary
The Mantorville City Council accepted two firefighter retirements and heard Fire Chief Duke Harbaugh say he will step down; Harbaugh also announced the department received a $40,000 AFG grant for new radios and reported staffing shortfalls.
Fire Chief Duke Harbaugh told the Mantorville City Council on Oct. 14 that he will step down after accepting a new employment position but will remain involved with the department as officials select his successor.
The council unanimously accepted two retirements during Harbaugh’s update: Steve Fairchild’s retirement effective Dec. 31, 2024, and Travis Bebee’s retirement effective Oct. 31, 2024. Councilmember Jeff Ingalls moved to accept Fairchild’s retirement (seconded by Henry Blair); Ingalls also moved to accept Bebee’s retirement (seconded by Lyle Hoaglund). Both motions carried as recorded by the council.
Harbaugh reported the department received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) of $40,000 to purchase new radios and thanked Roger Nolte for writing the grant: "Roger Nolte wrote the grant, thank you!" He said the department will discuss leadership and updated Standard Operating Guidelines at a Wednesday-night meeting.
The chief also flagged staffing and equipment issues. The department responded to a recent ditch fire, Harbaugh said, and is short four firefighters with two applicants under consideration; he reported the department currently has 25 firefighters (the full complement is 30; he said staffing usually runs about 27). He added that Region 15 discussions indicated OSHA evaluations of turnout gear costs may differ for smaller cities.
The council did not take a final personnel action on filling the chief role at the Oct. 14 meeting; Harbaugh’s announcement sets a near-term personnel planning item for upcoming meetings.
