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Fire & EMS

In 2016, the Keller Fire Department became the seventh fire department in the state and the first
in Tarrant County to earn status as a Recognized Best Practices Fire Department by the Texas Fire
Chiefs Association. The team's EMS capabilities continue to be recognized as well by area hospital
partners and the American Heart Association.

In October 2022, Keller hired Chief Bobby J. Tatum Jr. to fill the vacant fire chief position that
opened after the city's interlocal agreement with the Town of Westlake was allowed to expire.
Looking toward FY 2023‐24 and beyond, the Keller Fire Department will work with a consultant
to update its community‐centered strategic plan. This plan is intended to guide the progress of
the entire department toward common goals and objectives and will serve as a three‐ to five‐
year work plan. This plan will give fire staff a forum to voice their thoughts on the department's
future and enhance the relationship between KFD and the community by identifying, addressing,
and incorporating community concerns and service delivery expectations.

Strategy 1.4: Create Family‐Centric Environments

While creating family‐centric environments is not exclusive to Parks and Recreation spaces, a
number of the department's ongoing projects and upcoming plans will put this goal into action.
The FY 2023‐24 KDC sets aside $300,000 for two park playgrounds at the Keller Sports Park,
replacing structures that are 20 and 25 years old. These projects will provide Keller families with
fun places to play and peace of mind knowing equipment is safe and well maintained. The
playground projects are part of a commitment to replace at least one playground in the city
annually, which will combine for a $1.2 million investment in playground upgrades between FY
2019‐20 and FY 2027‐28.

In July 2021, City Council approved a nearly $3 million construction bid for Overton Ridge Park.
That park, which opened in FY 2022‐23, features an all‐inclusive playground with nearby parking
and restroom facilities, 10‐foot trails that connect the trail system from Huxley Street to Roanoke
Road, a landscaped hilltop seating area with custom shade structures and a pavilion. The Keller
Development Corporation funded this project in FY 2018‐19, and it is the first fully developed
park in North Keller.

In early 2022, we also celebrated the grand opening of the new Keller Senior Activities Center.
The building provides approximately 21,200 square feet of fitness, education and socialization
space — about five times the size of the old facility. This has allowed staff to expand programs,
classes, and events while offering permanent space for conversation and social activities. During
FY 2022‐23, staff was tasked with monitoring the new facility to determine the potential for
extended hours of operation and increased personnel. That effort determined a need for more
personnel to better serve member demands. In response, the FY 2023‐24 budget includes the
reallocation of a recreation manager full‐time equivalent position (1 FTE) to fund a member
services assistant (1 FTE) and two customer service technicians (0.48 FTE) at the KSAC.

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