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1 <br />October 8, 2020 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />FIRE SERVICE DISTRICT INFORMATION SESSION MINUTES OF <br />OCTOBER 8, 2020 <br /> <br />Fire Service District group met on October 8, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. at the Long Lake Fire <br />Station. <br /> <br />I. Call to Order <br /> <br />Members present: Orono City Administrator Dustin Rief, Long Lake City <br />Administrator Scott Weske, Long Lake Fire Chief James Van Eyll, <br />Loretto Fire Chief Jeff Leuer, Hamel Fire Chief Jeff Ruchti, <br />Assistant Hamel Fire Chief Mario Fabrizio, Assistant Maple Plain <br />Fire Chief Rick Denneson, Independence City Administrator Mark <br />Kaltsas, and Interim Maple Plain City Administrator Frank Boyles <br />Members absent: <br /> <br />II. Fire Service Information Presentation <br />Scott Johnson provided a brief presentation to the group regarding recruitment/retention <br />issues, major future expenses for facilities/equipment, and opportunities to work together <br />on a new fire service delivery model through a joint powers agreement and/or future fire <br />services taxing jurisdiction. <br /> <br />Further discussion took place on the value of working together on a joint powers <br />agreement for fire services. The overall theme/goal that everyone expressed at the <br />meeting was the ability to provide as good or greater fire service while reducing future <br />costs through eliminating duplication and pooling resources. <br /> <br />III. Concerns, Issues and Roadblocks <br />The group discussed the need for equal say/representation for the percent of the budget <br />each city pays per year at the board level. The group also discussed how each provider <br />has a different approach on how they provide fire services. Each fire department will <br />have different experience levels depending on the area of expertise. Some members of <br />the group are worried about the structure from the politicians to boots on the ground. <br /> Orono will be providing some options in their notes <br /> <br />There is worry about finances from the group. Concerns ranged from fire pensions to <br />Medina not having assets to contribute to a joint powers agreement. The group agreed <br />that all assets will need to be reviewed. <br /> <br />IV. Next Steps <br />Medina is reaching out to Tate Mills from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The group is <br />requesting help from Mr. Mills for the group to create a framework that can be used to <br />start discussions on alignment for a joint powers agreement. <br /> <br /> <br /> Adjournment at 9:20 a.m.