So you are going to have to bear with me today for news, I am veering off the newsy news today and doing a shout out. We have a LOT of people in Windom that have put their heart and soul into creating a safe and healthy environment for not only their families but for everyone in the community. Just this past week we celebrated John and Judy on 50 years of service with their business Holts Cleaning Service and now we have a double dose of awesomeness retiring as of July 1st this year. Long Time EMT’s Tim Hacker who became licensed in 1992 and Kim Powers who became licensed in 1993 will be officially retiring from the Windom Ambulance Service. That is a combined total of 63 years of service to the Windom Community, what’s even more incredible is that both Tim and Kim were employed full-time while volunteering on the squad. Tim owns and still operates Windom Farm Service and Kim worked full-time in the Billing Department at Windom Hospital until her retirement several years ago.
According to Ambulance Director Kristen Porath, “They have seen their share of changes over the years from patient run volume increases, manual equipment for blood pressures and cot operations, CPR mouth to mouth to using a bag valve mask (BVM) and manual CPR chest compressions to using a Lucas device that does automated chest compressions. Run reports went from a single page handwritten note to an electronic patient care report on an IPAD that is electronically submitted.” Both Powers and Hacker are staples within the Windom Community. They have devoted growing their lives and serving Windom. Porath went on to say, “Tim and Kim raised their families in this community and both have adult children and many grandchildren within the community. Porath stated that, with these two retiring, there is 60 + years of combined service and knowledge leaving the Windom Ambulance Service. Tim had served as the Ambulance Director for a little over 12 years. During those years he did a great job at keeping the ambulance fleet and equipment maintained, advocated for the need of the current Emergency Service Facility that allows EMT’s who live out of town a place to stay and take call 24/7. He advocated for a full-time ambulance director position for many years and that position was finally added and advertised in Jan. 2022.” Current director Kristen Porath took over in May 2022 with Tim continuing to assist with the transition for the next year. Behind the frontlines of operating the fleet of ambulance was Kim Powers who did the EMT schedules, payroll log sheets, reviewed the paper patient run reports, and submitted billing information to the billing company. In 2021 Kim worked countless hours to transition our service to electronic patient run sheets using an IPAD. Windom’s record system was revised from the state’s basic system to fit the reporting requirements our service needed for state and local entities, and our billing company. This system went live in June 2021 and continues to be used today. Both Tim and Kim were two that could be counted on in the spur of the moment to help with coverage. Both were relied on for a lot day coverage as they were both flexible in their jobs to leave when help was needed. Tim was relied on for his heavy lifting ability, driving in adverse weather conditions, and one that could fix anything even if temporary until someone could look at it or take it to where it needed to go.
Porath summed it up with, “While both are very deserving of their retirements, there isn’t any service that likes to see this many years of service depart at the same time. Our service will have a void to fill but we have dedicated members that will continue to serve the community just as Tim and Kim have done for the past 30+ years. We want to congratulate them on their retirement, wish them all the best, and know they will fill their time spending it with their families and more traveling.”
There is ALWAYS a need for new and motivated individuals to join the EMT team. If anyone interested in becoming an EMT or would like to learn more about what it takes to become an EMT to contact the Ambulance Director for more information. You can reach Porath by calling City Hall and asking for her at 507- 831-6129.
There will be an Open House Retirement Farewell for Tim Hacker and Kim Powers tomorrow, Thursday June 20th from 4pm to 6pm at the Windom Emergency Services Building. This will be a perfect opportunity to congratulate and thank both on a job well done. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to stop in and send Tim and Kim off to a happy retirement. KDOM would like to extend our appreciation to both for making such a positive impact on the community.
