Robert Barteck. Image courtesy: City of Wausau
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Police and Fire Commission is staying in-house for the city’s next Fire Chief.
In an early Tuesday morning meeting, Commissioners voted unanimously to elevate Bob Barteck to the position of Chief after serving as deputy Chief under Tracey Kujawa, who retired in April.
“It’s rare that I’m at a loss for words but this morning I’m struggling to take it all in,” said Barteck following the Commission vote at City Hall. “We have an amazing department and I’ve always been proud to be a member of the department and now I’m so honored and humbled to be chosen as the leader of this department.”
He says with that new job will come a whole new set of responsibilities. Instead of caring for the people of Wausau, he’s now tasked with caring for the people who care for Wausau no matter the need. “It’s amazing as a leader to have a front-row seat to watch what they do every day. Even something as simple as having a cou0ple of paramedics help an elderly person who’s fallen and can’t get up.
“[You have to] reach to that person with care, compassion, and kindness. And maybe help that person above and beyond what they were expecting,” he added.
Barteck began his career with the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department in 1993 after graduating from Fox Valley Technical College. He was brought on as Deputy Chief in Wausau in the spring of 2019. Though he says his career path actually started in 1990 when he stopped by Wausau Fire Station 1 to ask “what do I have to do to become a full-time firefighter?
“He took a lot of time with me that day and it changed the course of my life,” he said.
During his acceptance speech Tuesday morning Barteck also thanked his family and recognized his wife, who he said is “really the strong one” in the family. He also choked back tears when he talked about his parents, who adopted him at the age of three months. His adoptive father has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT-Basic for the Owen-Withee-Curtis Fire Department while also serving as a role model for Barteck. “Our house was kitty-corner from the backyard to the fire station. My dad would literally run out the back door to meet the need of somebody in the community when they called for help. I watched that happen and it became infused in my DNA. I’m very proud of him.
“We love talking about the trade. I love going over to the fire station [in Owen], it’s like stepping back 50 years ago when I was a kid,” he added.
Barteck begins his duties immediately. He comes with the full endorsement of Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg who called him “a visionary leader who will continue guiding the Wausau Fire Department with excellence, strategic foresight, and top of class training.”
She adds that Barteck has also been instrumental in crafting partnerships with Marathon County “that benefit our shared constituents and I look forward to future collaborations.”
Police and Fire Commission Chair Michael Loy was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. Instead, Marathon County Supervisor William Harris served as chair of the proceedings.
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