GCP fire commish runs unopposed

Richard Tedesco

Garden City Park Fire and Water District Commissioner Christian Engel is running unopposed for his fourth three-year term in the job.

Along with his nine years as commissioner, Engel is a 40-year veteran of the Garden City Park Fire Department who has served as department chief twice, in 1992 and 1993 and in 1996 and 1997.

“I believe that I’m doing an outstanding job for the community as far as the water is concerned,” he said. “And I have upgraded the fire trucks with more computerization two years ago.”

The department fire trucks are now equipped with GPS systems.

Engel said he’s particularly proud of spearheading an initiative with two other commissioners for upgrading water wells in the district. The nine wells in the district have been successively upgraded over the past several year at a cost of $50,000 per well, with tangible results, Engel said.

“We are ranked among the highest in water quality in Nassau County,” he said. “We’re working to ensure we have the cleanest water in Nassau County. And it tastes good as well.”

The district recently painted the Herricks tank, he said.

Engel joined with the other district fire commissioners to approve moving the fire siren from the Denton Avenue firehouse to the nearby grounds of the fire and water district headquarters to accommodate residents in the neighborhood.

“The neighbors of the ABC streets were complaining. So we moved it. We’re just trying to be good neighbors,” Engel said.

He said he intends to oversee the continuing upgrade of the district’s fire and water systems while holding down costs. He said the district currently has among the lowest fire and water tax rates in the county.

“We don’t float any bonds. We do keep our costs down,” he said.

Along with feeling he’s done a good job, Engel said he is motivated by a desire to serve the community.

I’m one of those guys who believes in helping people,” he said.

Engel is self-employed as supplier for Boar’s Head meats.

Voting in the district election takes place on Dec. 11, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Garden City Park Fire Department headquarters on Jericho Turnpike and at the department‘s Denton Avenue fire station.

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