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New emergency services leader appointed in Batavia

For the first time in 35 years Batavia has a new Emergency Services and Disaster Agency leader.

Mayor Jeff Schielke appointed Capt. Mark Davis as ESDA manager this week.

The mayor said Jeff Glaser, who was director of the agency, did not want the position after the city council in April put ESDA under the supervision of the fire department. It was a part-time position that paid $10,000 a year.

“It was no secret” Glaser disagreed with the change, Schielke said. Glaser’s annual appointment ended April 30, the same as other city department heads.

Glaser had spoken against it at several committee meetings in 2012 and 2013. The mayor had asked for the change.

Davis will manage the ESDA volunteers. He will report to Fire Chief Randy Deicke. Before the change, the ESDA director reported directly to the mayor.

Schielke said he plans to honor Glaser for his service at a future city council meeting.

ESDA maintains and operates the city’s weather-warning sirens, provides crowd control at large events such as the Fourth of July fireworks, provides traffic control at police and fire emergencies, supplies emergency lighting, supervises the emergency shelter at city hall, and develops the city’s overall disaster planning. It has done water and ice rescues, and has a truck equipped to fight grass fires.

All other department heads, the city administrator and the assistant city administrator were reappointed Monday.

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