HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 [09] Sep 28 September 28, 2016
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Fire Board for the City of St. Joseph and Townships of St.
Joseph and St.Wendel met in special session on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 6:00 PM in the St.
Joseph Fire Hall.
Members Present: Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, City of St. Joseph Representative Bob Loso, St. Joseph
Township Representative Jerome SaVzer, St.Wendel Township Representative Greg Salk. City
Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Others Present: Justin Honer
Fire Contract: Weyrens presented the Fire Board with the proposed draft for the Fire Contract. The
contract has been drafted to include all the provisions from the last two contracts, eliminating the need to
refer to the original agreement. As discussed at the previous meeting, the contract has been amended to
require a jurisdiction losing property to annexation, to continue to contribute on the market value being
annexed, phasing out over five years. The first year contribution is at 100%and then reduces by 20%for
each of the following four years(100, 80, 60, 40 and 20). The contract has also been amended to
represent current practices regarding meeting dates/times and reporting and includes a five year contract
period.
Salzer questioned the reduction of ownership as it relates to St. Joseph Township. He stated that at one
time St. Joseph Township owned 50%of the assets and now the contract relates the ownership
percentage to the apportionment percentage. Weyrens stated that the original contract did indicate that
the City and Township had equal ownership; however, when the contract was amended in 2006 the
ownership language was amended to equal the apportionment calculated based on the percentage of
market value. Therefore, if St. Joseph Township were no longer served by the St. Joseph Fire
Department, the contract indicates the Township could be compensated for their share of its ownership
rights. Salk stated that the contract does include language that upon termination of the contract, the party
terminating the contract will be compensated for the fair share of the value property at the time of
termination. It also states that if the parties cannot agree on the fair value, it then goes to arbitration.
Salzer questioned if St. Joseph Township would be better of being a contract user, such as St.Wendel
and the City would then manage the Fire Fund. Salk stated that the Township would still be paying the
same rate regardless of owne�ship. He then questioned Salzer if they would ever not need the fire
department; therefore the ownership is not as significant. There is a cost to providing fire protection and
a building and equipment are part of that. As long as the apportionment is agreeable, and the Townships
have an equal vote in managing the department, then the fire contract works.
After considerable discussion, the Board agreed to move forward with the proposed draft agreement. St.
Wendel and St. Joseph Township representatives will present the agreement to their respective Boards
and forward the recommendation to the Weyrens. Once both Townships have agreed to the contract it
will be forwarded to the City Council for approval and then execution.
Adiourn: Salk made a motion to adjourn at 6:45 PM; seconded by Loso and passed unanimously.
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