Posted: 7/20/04
Pumper purchase falls through; fire department seeks another
by Jane Palen
Managing editor
After waiting a number of months for delivery of a new pumper, the Caledonia Fire Department recently discovered that the unit on which it had put a $10,000 deposit is not available.
At the city council meeting of July 12, individuals representing the fire department and rural fire district explained to the council that the pumper, which it had agreed to buy for $55,000, was not for sale. Last year, Fire Chief Chuck Gavin and fireman Jason Leahy traveled to Bixby, Oklahoma, to look at the 1993 Spartan-Boardman pumper. Their trip was paid for by Alpine Fire Apparatus and Services of Wichita, Kansas. The city paid a $200 per diem each. The city paid a deposit on the unit in October of 2003.
Chief Gavin told the council that the department is in urgent need of a new pumper, and recommended that the city get the deposit back and find another pumper as soon as possible.
Kermit McRae, representing the rural fire district, said that he feels the original contract should be pursued a little longer.
The reason that the pumper is suddenly not available is a mystery. Doug Ely of the fire department said he has attempted to contact numerous city and fire department officials in Bixby and has received no explanation. He said he was told only that the fire truck is not for sale.
John Klug suggested that the city ask for its deposit plus $500 for expenses and interest. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2 with Councilman Mark Schiltz and Mayor Bob Burns voting in the negative. The rural fire district must also consider the questions before action can be taken.
The city planned to hold a special meeting with the rural fire district this week to determine the next step.
Penalties adopted for public nuisances
In other business, the city has adopted administrative penalties for public nuisances in an attempt to discourage exterior storage and other unsightly conditions in the city.
Under the new guidelines, residents can be fined up to $500 for unmowed lawns, storage of two or fewer unlicensed or junk vehicles, uncontrolled weeds, or small quantities of exterior storage.
For nuisances that also carry a probable health threat, the fine is up to $750. Those nuisances include having more than two unlicensed vehicles, extensive growth of weeds or brush, large quantities of junk or exterior storage.
Residents will pay up to $1,000 for nuisances that carry a imminent threat to public health, including infestation of rodents, rotting, decaying meat, vegetable or animal carcasses; having conditions which provide a habitat for mosquitoes; conditions which pose a threat to groundwater, air or soil; or any conditions which constitute a risk to public health or safety.
Penalties must be paid within 14 days and the condition must be corrected or criminal charges may be filed.
The city may waive the administrative penalty for prompt attention to the offending condition.
City extends contract with Tri County Electric
Brian Krambeer, president/CEO of Tri-County Electric (TEC), and Ted Kjos, manager of member services, asked the council to consider extending the cityís contract with TEC through 2025. The current contract runs through 2012.
With the new contract in place, the cityís rate for electricity cannot increase more than two percent per year. The contract would insulate the city from any unexpected rate hikes. A motion to extend the contract passed unanimously.
Tri-Countyís annual meeting will be held in Caledonia in April of 2005.
Police Department may fill two vacancies
In another matter, the council heard a request from officer Jim Stemper of the Caledonia Police Department, who asked to be part of the hiring process for a new officer to take the place of Derek Lanning, who resigned to take a position in Winona.
Officer Stemper told the council that Chief St. Mary, who is retiring at the end of the year, has indicated that he doesnít want to be included in the hiring process.
In response to a question from the council regarding the list from which Lanning was hired, Stemper said that two of the candidates were eliminated during background checks, so that list is now too short. The vacancy canít be filled with part-time officers because all the cityís part-time officers work full-time at other jobs.
The council agreed to discuss the matter with Chief St. Mary at a special meeting which was to be held this week.
The council also reviewed the transcript from a June 18 incident in which a woman who was taking parents of a critically injured boy to the hospital was ticketed for speeding. The child died while the parents were en route. The driver had been told by a deputy in Winneshiek County that he would call ahead to let authorities here know she would be coming through.
According to the transcript, the request from Winneshiek County was not met favorably by local authorities.
According to the transcript, the Houston County dispatcher told ta La Crescent unit, ìWinneshiek County just called, and they wanted us to inform you that there will be two vehicles heading though on their way to Gundersen. There was an accident in Iowa, deputy advised that they will be running stop signs, etc.
La Crescent unit: Without emergency lights?
Houston County Sheriffís Office: 10-4. Theyíre a passenger vehicle. Iíll run them and see what they are.
La Crescent: Ah, negative. Without emergency lights we canít authorize that.
HCSO: Theyíve already left.
Later, the Houston County dispatcher calls Winneshiek County and tells them, ìIf your deputy has any cell phone contact with these parties, tell them negative, they are not to speed through the county.
WCSO: Okay.
HCSO: Because they are not emergency vehicles they will be stopped.
WCSO: Yeah, I was kind of wondering why the hell he let them do that in the first place.
After reading the transcript, Mayor Burns commented that ìThe first problem was the guy in Winneshiek County who told them they could speed and run stop lights.î
Councilman John Klug responded, ìIf youíre a parent, youíre going to be agitated. They (the officers) went by the book but didnít show good judgement.î
The council agreed that no disciplinary action would be taken, and also agreed that the police department should write a letter explaining the actions the officers took that evening.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com