commissioner hardeman. >> commissioner hardeman: very sad news you brought, chief, about firefighter killed in action. we're -- i had that happen once in all my decades -- few decades as the head of a union. i had one person die in an automobile accident leaving work. so it can happen, and i'm very sad to hear that. chief gonzales, so you'll be working with the new president of the 798, john buford, lieutenant buford, and congratulate batallion chief tom o'connor for all his service because he'll be retired by the time we meet again for all his work in local 798. i do have a comment on your report, chief gonzales. inspector -- not inspector, deputy fire marshal tyrone truitt. we had a lunch the other day that was sponsored by the electrical department and their inspectors. it was wonderful to see the fire department there with their inspectors, because it turned out he was the most popular guy in the room. everyone had a comment for chief truitt. he represented the fire department very well, and i think it was very wise that he was there. i hope he attends again. he was just deluged.

i see commissioner hardeman's name there. >> commissioner hardeman: i did attend the meeting last week. i was not trying to make proposals or vote up or down. just there to support and listen. it was a bigger crowd and much longer meeting that went well. as chief nicholson said we are at 49 groundbreaking. the mayor was all dressed up in red. she sounded like the comment commission. her heart is in it. she loves the fire department. that was real nice. we had the president of the board speaking also. very nicely done. i am sure it is on tv tonight. it would be covered. all of the brass was there. everybody was smalling. happy to shovel in dirt. it was a fun thing to do. very enjoyable. >> commissioner covington. >> commissioner covington: thank you, mr. president. i echo commissioner hardeman's seniowaments. it was -- sentiments it was a happy day to see dirt being moved. things will be happening very quickly with the build of station 49, also known as the ambulance deployment facility. it is just a very exciting, you know, and the people waiting for so long to have the facility to fin

michael hardeman and commissioner francee covington. it's been a long time coming to get this from planning to where we are today. i know some of my fellow commissioners have been on the commission up to 24 years, and it's been a discussion all that time. how can we improve our e.m.s. because that's obviously one of the biggest facility -- one of the biggest services that we provide to the city's residents and visitors, so it's a really proud moment for us today on the commission, for the fire department, and certainly for the department of public works to get this launched, and so i'm very proud to say congratulations on getting it done. congratulations again as mohamed said earlier to the voters. thank you for passing the bond that made this possible, and we're going to need another bond down the road so we can have another new training facility, so let's get that word out. so thank you very much, and i'm pleased the rain has held out. >> chair nuru: thank you. thank you. and now, a good friend of mine, good partner with public works,

. >> commissioner hardeman: thanks for the speakers who came forward. this is about the crowd i thought we would have. i really don't know if any of us will hear anything different. everybody wants the same thing in the chief. training might not be their five are or it -- favorite thing for each candidate. the candidates that have been announced by other command staff people to let know that we could expect a certain candidate to come forward, we have a lot of talented people in the department. i would be surprised if someone from outside the department could have the talent we possess right in this room and this department. i am looking forward to this. this is a terrific honor the four of us have to pick three people, and i think we will have three wonderful candidates going forward. thank you for coming out and giving your opinion, taking your time. that shows your love for the present firefighters of your occupation and of the department. i didn't think chief tom and his work on the auxiliary over the years is wonderful. thank you. we are looking fo

michael hardeman and commissioner francee covington. it's been a long time coming to get this from planning to where we are today. i know some of my fellow commissioners have been on the commission up to 24 years, and it's been a discussion all that time. how can we improve our e.m.s. because that's obviously one of the biggest facility -- one of the biggest services that we provide to the city's residents and visitors, so it's a really proud moment for us today on the commission, for the fire department, and certainly for the department of public works