02-11-1993 Special Meeting MinutesSTATE OF MN The City Council of the City of
COUNTY OF WRIGHT Otsego held a Special Council
CITY OF OTSEGO Meeting this 11 day of February,
1993, at 7:30 PM. Norman F. Freske,
Mayor, Doug Lindenfelser, Floyd Roden, Larry Fournier, Ron
Black, Council Members, Jerome Perrault, Clerk, and Elaine
Beatty, Deputy Clerk/Zoning Administrator, were present.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Norman F.
Freske. He explained that the meeting was being held to
discuss fire department service and rescue squad service and
to get residents opinions on this.
Don Praught said response time is too slow at the
present time, both for rescue service and fire.
Gail Wendel said she feels the same way, that response
time is too slow. When rescue service was called for her
neighbor the ambulance and police came with no lights or
sirens and did not seem to be hurrying.
Elaine Beatty said Albertville has now agreed to respond
to rescue calls in Otsego.
Floyd Roden explained that Otsego was not even aware
that Albertville had informed the Sheriff's Office Dispatcher
that they would not respond to rescue calls in Otsego, even
as mutual aid, and were not aware of it until rescue service
was needed.
Lawrence Dupont said the ambulances did not seem to know
where to go.
The Council reminded the residents that every one is
required to have their address numbers displayed so they can
be seen from the street.
Mrs. Kenneth Zachman asked if Monticello and Elk River
had to be called first. The answer was yes but Albertville
will respond under Mutual Aid.
Mike Zaohman asked if costs had been discussed
with Albertville. The answer was not as yet.
Ron Black explained how we quit getting service from
Albertville. He said their contract rates doubled in 2
years, going from $13,000 in 1990 to over $26,000 for 1992.
We met with their Council several times but they refused to
negotiate, it was take it or leave it. Then we received a
letter shortly before December 31, 1991, that as of midnight,
December 31, service would be cancelled if a contract was not
signed. We then met with the Monticello Council and they
were more than happy to provide service to us at $25.00 a
unit as compared to Albertville's request for $65.00 a unit.
Mike Zachman said lives are at stake and negotiations
should have been continued.
Gary Meyer said he would like to be informed when the
Albertville and Otsego Councils meet.
Mrs. Kenneth Zachman said she is concerned that we are
not getting good service form Monticello. She said she put
in a call when her husband became i11 and 15 minutes went by
and the ambulance was still not there. The deputy sheriff
did arrive. She was able to get her husband into the car and
t .:a' ted out for the Buffalo Hospital, The dept1i,,;; followed het'
CITY COUNCIL OF OTSEGO SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY
11, 1993. Page 2
part way and then left.
Ron Black said we have the following options that we can
pursue=
Continue as we are with contracts.
Start our own fire department.
Have a joint fire department with a neighboring
city.
Individual areas can have their own Fire Department,
this has been done in a few areas.
Roger Kirscht said insurance rates could go up if the
insurance companies found out how many miles some of us are
from the Fire Department.
One resident asked if it was possible for a certain
group of residents to have a contract with Albertville on
their own. The Council said this was a possibility that
could be worked out.
Don Praught asked if the 911 system was part of the
problem in response time. The answer was that it should not
be
Gary Meyer said
Otsego Councils meet
rescue squad service
cost.
he
as
is
would like to see the Albertville and
soon as possible. He also said that
important and worth the additional
Mrs. Meyer said that maybe Otsego should be instrumental
in getting the rescue squad service between the different
departments better organized, including the St. Michael
rescue service.
Roger Kirscht said in his opinion rescue service is the
most important issue.
Larry Fournier said we need to get rescue squad service
in place right now.
Ron Black commented that he would like to know just how
the Dispatcher in Buffalo handles the incoming calls and he
would like to have someone from the Sheriff's office come to
a meeting and explain how the dispatch system functions.
Dennis Hamlet, Ambulance Co-ordinator for the Monticello
Hospital, was present and said the Monticello ambulance
responds to all medical calls in Otsego West of Co. 19. The
Monticello Fire Department has a rescue squad but it onlq
goes out for car accidents and not medical. The Elk River
ambulance and rescue squad responds to calls in Otsego East
of Co. 19 and their backup comes from Mercy Hospital in Coon
Rapids.
The Council advised the residents that they will he
.setting up a meeting with the Albertville Council soon to
discuss fire department and rescue squad service.
CITY COUNCIL OF OTSEGO SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY
11, 1993. Page 3
On motion the meeting adjourned,
, NORMAN F. FRESKE, MAYOR
, DOUG LINDENFELSER, COUNCIL
, LARRY FOURNIER, COUNCIL
, FLOYD RODEN, COUNCIL
, RON BLACK, COUNCIL
Attest: Jerome Perrault
JP/jeh