11-21-2002 Council Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

GlTYoT NO Municipal Offices Strtsi AMress: 2750 Kellqr Partiwsy Orono, MN 55356 Mailing Addrau: P.O Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN 55323 0066 November 20,2002 Hxcelsior Fire District Board % Mark Ducharme, Fire Chief 339 Third Street lixcelsior, MN 55331 Dear Excelsior Fire District Board; 'I hank you for being open to considering assisting Orono in moving to a new type of organization for the provision of fire service. With the notable exception of the Excelsior Fire District, the lake area cities have been organized for the provision of fire service in the same way for the past thirty to forty plus years. Numerous Fire Departments have provided .service to a number of customer cities or parts of cities. In Orono this has meant four Fire Departments, each providing service to a portion of Orono. Although this method of organizing for fire ser\ ice provision has worked well in the past, it is clearly not adequate to meet the challenges of fire scr\ ice provision that we are beginning to face and will face in the future. I he cost of fire service has begun to increase substantially, and will continue to increase substantially in the coming years, due to capital needs as well as increased operating costs. Orono has been in a unique position to see the trend of substantial cost increases acro.ss its multiple fire service providers. In looking ahead at the needs and costs that are potentially facing the individual fire departments, it is important that the lake area cities make an effort to detennine how to provide high quality fire and rescue scrv ice while limiting the extent of cost increases. 1 his needs to involve a new way of organizing for fire scr\ ice that maximizes cooperation and minimizes duplication. 1 his need was the impetus for the RFP procc.ss initiated by Orono in relation to the Navarre area. The response provided by the Excelsior Fire District to the Orono ’s RFP indicated that, in the short temi, the Fire District was not in a position to respond to the RFP. But with a longer time-frame and the potential for a win/win solution, the Fire District could respond to the RFP. The following is a list of proposed pai ameters or elements of a potential win/w in arrangement between Orono and the Fire District. Orono is hopeiul the Fire District Board will respond positively to this proposed arrangement. Tdtphone (9$2) 24M600 • Fax (fS2) 24M6M wwwxiorooojnn.ai