Caledonia Argus

Fire Department may have been burned on gambling

Posted: 3/30/04

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department is now handling their own charitable gambling operation, and early predictions are that the department is much further ahead than when its operation was managed by the Dover Fire Relief Association.

City clerk Robert Nelson updated the city council on the joint gambling effort between the Dover Fire Relief Association and the Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department at the March 22 meeting of the council. Nelson said that in October of 2003, he sent a letter to Dover asking for $4,000 of the gambling funds to purchase personal protective equipment for the department. Last month, he received a letter and statement from the Dover Relief Association showing a loss of $7,500 between June of 2002 when the program began and December of 2003, when the venture ended. (Editorís note: a recalculation of the monthly numbers provided to the city council show a net loss for that period of $4,560.) The Dover group reported gross receipts of $200,354 for the period. The Argus recalculated the monthly figures and arrived at $251,923 in gross receipts.

Net receipts, according to the Dover group, were $49,752.

Expenses for the period total $41,616. which included rent and maintenance of the pull-tab machines and travel expenses. Total gambling taxes were about $12,700.

Fire Chief Chuck Gavin, contacted after the meeting, said that the fire department contracted with the Dover group, with the approval of the city council, because at that time no one was trained to handle gambling. The department was led to believe that it could earn between $200 and $500 per month. The fire department received a total of $1,500 over the 18-month period. Three members of the fire department have since been trained and licensed to handle the gambling. Two more are in the process of becoming certified.

Gavin said that the department will be getting an update on the gambling at its April 5 meeting.

New officer will start at step I

In other news from the March 22 meeting, the city council decided against starting its new officer, Derek Lanning, at Step 2 pay rate ($16.68/hr.) rather than at Step 1, which is $15.12/ hr.

The Caledonia Police Association had made the request, which was endorsed by Chief Duane St. Mary, based on Lanningís previous law enforcement experience. He has been employed as a police officer at two different cities on a part-time basis.

ìThey are aware of the wages when they are hired,î commented Councilman John Klug.

The council took no action, which means that the rate stays at Step 1.

Fees for auditorium use may change

The council has agreed to consider changes in the rates it charges, and doesnít charge, for the use of the city auditorium. Clerk Nelson said that a person came to the city hall after the recent boxing match and complained that some groups must pay to use the auditorium while others, like the boxing club, are not. The citizen said that the boxing match drew 850 people and there was admission charged.

Nelson said that the American Legion is charged for the use of the auditorium for bingo, even though the Legion makes numerous contributions to the community.

Mayor Robert Burns suggested that the council work out a fee schedule to be implemented next year.

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