Polk Township's Volunteer Fire Company's fire chief, Billy Tippett Jr., received a glowing compliment from Gary Hoffman, Director of Communications for the Monroe County Control Center. Polk Township supervisor/secretary Nancy May read a letter the township received at the Monday night supervisors' meeting.

In it, Hoffman states how he was home when the dispatch call was made in regards to the Luna Rossa structure fire, and he monitored the radio communications to and from Tippet with the center's dispatchers and incoming mutual aid units. He said he felt "compelled to put to paper" his thoughts.He wrote, "In my career of 36 years, and in consideration of the magnitude of the incident and the number of departments called in, I have to commend your fire chief on his calm, cool and collective demeanor on the radio. Not once from our perspective could you hear the amount of stress he obviously had to be subject to. He was always clear and concise about what he wanted, where it should come from and what they were to do once they arrived on scene."There have been and are many good fire chiefs throughout Monroe County but I just wanted you to know that you have one of the best!"Tippett received a round of applause from the supervisor board and those in attendance.Tippett said the owner of Luna Rossa, Silvio Vitiello, is planning a benefit event at his other place of business, Brick Lounge, Route 115, Blakeslee, for all the fire companies that responded to the fire. It will be held Sept. 20.In Tippett's report, he said that the fire company responded to two calls so far for August.Changes have been made to the fire company's monitoring system and Monroe County Control Center is now getting better radar reception.