Caledonia Argus

Fire department looks forward to delivery of pumper

Posted: 2/12/02

by Tom Murphy
Special to The Argus

With a little luck, residents of the city of Caledonia and the Rural Fire District will be able to see the new $219,539Ýfire truck pumper at Caledonia Founder's Days.Ý That was the hope expressed last Tuesday at the annual fire district meeting at the city hall.ÝWith an announced June delivery,Ýfire chief Chuck Gavin said production was ahead of schedule.

Attending the annual meeting from the townships were Jerry Frank, Maynard Welscher, Glenn Meiners, Marty Ranzenberger, Gene Tessmer, Burdette Unnasch, Glenn Kruse, Andy Moen, Greg Myhre and Kermit McRae.Ý City representatives were Mayor Bob Burns, Councilman John Klug, and City clerk/administrator Bob Nelson.Ý Representing the fire department were chief Chuck Gavin and first assistant chief Bob Lemke.

It was a busy year in 2001 for the fire department.ÝFire calls increased fromÝ43 calls to 55 calls.ÝMan hours fighting firesÝmore than doubled from the previous year.Ý The call requiring the most attention was the Augedahl Construction fire last spring.ÝFiremen were called back four times to put out 'hot spots.'ÝFor the year, Lemke reported 1,450 hours answering fire calls.Ý Schooling and practice times are worked in addition to fire calls.

During the year four firemen retired.ÝThey were Bill Klug, Paul Schiltz, Bob Jacobson, and Jake Hauser.Ý

ìWeíre down to 25 men,î Lemke said. In addition, two more, including Burns, will likely retire.Ý ìWe will be aggressively recruiting four or five firemen this year,î he said.Ý ìPeople who think we are being fussy about who we accept should remember our priority is to hire more ëday people.íîÝ He said he could count on 10 or 12 firemen to answer calls during the day and the departmentÝwants to maintain that number at a minimum.

A review of disbursements saw an equal cost sharing that started again last year.ÝAfter studyingÝ property values, both sides agreed the split was fair.ÝThis split also extends to maintenance of fire trucks.

Chief Gavin said the department would have few equipment needs in the coming year.Ý ìThe new fire truck comes equipped with everything we will need,î he said.ÝThe only major repair might be replacement of an engine in the 1975 ëbrush truckí at a cost of $1,500-$2,000.ÝWith Thursdayís fund-raising at the Masonic Lodge, the chief hoped there would be enough money to buy the thermal imaging camera.

After the last one day inspection trip to the fire truckÝmanufacturerÝ and being paid for one meal, Chief Gavin asked for about $80 per person per trip for him and second assistant chief Mike Meiners to make three additional trips. ìWe have to take time off of work and eat,î he explained.Ý The board approved $100 per person per trip.

Gavin also asked that pay for answering fire calls be increased from $7 to $10 per hour.ÝHe said the department is having problems recruiting people.ÝHe noted that La Crescent pays $12 per hour and Winona pays $13 per hour and $15 after the Firefighter I course is completed.ÝHe was asked about the pay of smaller neighboring departments, but he did not have that information.ÝFiremen will not be paid for meetings, practices or when they answer mutual aid calls.

The chief's pay would be increased to $1,700 and the two assistants would be increased to $1,200, under the chiefís request.Ý He estimated he spends at least fifteen hours per week with the chief's work.

It was brought up the city would likely begin issuing checks and W-2 forms because firemen would probablyÝ begin earning more than $600 per year.ÝDiscussion then followed how the rural fire district would coordinate payments now through the city.ÝMayor Burns summed up the board's approval.ÝìThe fire department is making the transition from a group of volunteers to a group ofÝ employees.î

Despite the downturn in the stock market, the firemenís relief association could honor all retirements without any problem at this time, chief GavinÝ said.

The rural fire district annual meeting will be Thursday, February 21, at 7 p.m. at the fire barn.

Top of Page