04-11-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 11, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 4. FIRE SERVICE (continued) Council Member Walsh noted the City is not changing the fire responders or the police service or ambulance service as part of this and that the police department is usually the first to respond. Walsh noted this is just strictly dealing with the fire service contract. McMillan noted this discussion was initiated solely by the Orono City Council Members and not either fire department. Mayor McMillan opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. Judson Dayton, 825 Old Crystal Bay Road, stated in randomly talking to Chief Kevin Klaprick at fundraising event, he indicated they would like to continue the service the way it is. The Wayzata Fire Chief also asked him to remind the Council that sometimes the fire department is the fire responder and that some of the times are averages and could vary. Dayton stated in some of the areas there is a large difference, which might not matter as much in a fire, but that those couple of minutes difference matter in a heart attack or other medical emergency. Dayton stated the Wayzata Fire Department would like to continue servicing the sections that they are and that he hopes those response times make a difference at some point. Robert Howe, 135 Chevy Chase Drive, stated he has lived here since 1971 and that he is a board certified internist. Howe stated his concern is to the response time as it relates to cardiac arrest. The first 24 hours after a heart attack are critical and that they are able to save many lives due to the fust response because that is when irregular heartbeats cause the most deaths_ The response time between the patient calling the fire department or the police with chest pain and the response time is absolutely critical to survival. Howe stated one reason this country has improved cardiac care is because of emergency response teams and that lives are saved because of that response time. Howe stated two minutes more is too much. Tom Collum, 725 North Ferndale Road, stated he happens to live in an area that has the longest response times. Collum indicated he has had two heart attacks and has great sensitivity to this issue. Collum indicated the area he lives in also has no fire hydrants and that he is curious what the response time will be and how they will address the fires since there are no fie hydrants. Collum noted he has not seen any other solutions come up for the area and that the response time is double to his house for fires or emergencies and that it is a lot more than dollars and cents. Stacy, 240 Northgate Road, stated she has lived in a number of areas and has seen a lot of emergency services handled off and on. Stacy stated she cannot say enough about Wayzata and how they provide public service very well for a pretty decent cost. Stacy noted she just received her City of Orono sewer and water bill and that in her opinion the City can do better there. Stacy stated she knows people have medical concerns and are concerned about the longer response times. The City of Wayzata Fire Department runs a good department and has updated their equipment with the community in mind. They have had to deal with the Press Homes being built out, as well as other things going on in the City, and have done it in a very thoughtful, concerned way about costs, people, and resources. Stacy stated she is for keeping it where it is at and that geographically it makes sense because anything can happen. Page 4 of 32