HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.08.21February 8, 2021
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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 regular session on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 5:00 PM in the St. Joseph
Fire Hall.
Members Present: Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, City of St. Joseph Representative Bob Loso, St. Joseph
Township Representative Doug Fredrickson, St. Wendel Township Representative Greg Salk via
telephone. City Administrator Therese Haffner, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Police Chief Dwight
Pfannenstein
Others Present: N/A
Minutes: Fredrickson made a motion to approve the minutes from December 14, 2020; seconded
by Salk and passed unanimously by those present.
Financial Report & Budget Discussion: Bartlett presented the fourth quarter financial report and
discussed the 2022 budget asking for input. There was discussion on fire department needs and
budgeting for 2022.
Salk moved to approve the financial reports as presented; seconded by Fredrickson and passed
unanimously.
Relief Association Update: Fire Captain Keith Louwagie is updating bylaws.
State Fire Convention: Taufen announced that the State Fire Convention was canceled.
Old Fire Hose: New fire hose was purchased as the old fire hose was aged.
Call Pay per Hour: Taufen reviewed the pay of firefighters in Avon which is $15 per hour and Waite Park's
is $15.61 per hour and recommended that pay for St. Joseph firefighters be increased from $12 to $16
per hour.
Loso made a motion to approve firefighter pay to $16 per hour; seconded by Salk and passed
unanimously.
Pumper/Tanker ISO Update: The board discussed the option of moving forward with adding an additional
Pumper Tanker to the fleet which may help in reducing the ISO rating. Taufen said it would likely drop a
point from 5 to 4. The amount budgeted for the ladder truck could be transferred to the pumper/tanker.
There was discussion on whether or not a reduction of one point in the ISO rating would have any impact.
Taufen will get updated estimates for the cost of a pumper/tanker and bring back at the next meeting.
FEMA Grant: The grant writer submitted the 2021 grant application for a new grass rig. The board
discussed the need to replace if the grant was not awarded by transferring funding from the rescue van
budget.
Future Plan for Call Volume Control: The Board discussed the increase in medical calls. Pfannenstein
discussed how and when police officers respond. The senior facilities have requested that the least
amount of emergency personnel enter facilities due to exposure to COVID-19. There was discussion on a
tiered approach, duty shifts, and CentracCare ambulance providing services. Haffner will contact Mayo
Ambulance Service.
Adiourn: Fredrickson made a motion to adjourn at 6:12 PM; seconded by Loso and passed
unanimously.
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Therese Haffner
City Administrator