Item 3.1 4.9.2024 Draft Public Safety Meeting MinutesPUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
OTSEGO PRAIRIE CENTER
April 9, 2024
6:30 PM
Call to Order:
This mee�ng was called to order at 6:30 PM.
Roll Call: Chair David Greeman; Commissioners: John Braun, Gregory Hubbard,
Mark Wolf, Dan Freiberg, and Kyle Heltemes; City Council: Mayor Jessica Stockamp, CM Tina
Goede & Ryan Dunlap & Emergency Services Director Daryl Rausch
2.Consider agenda approval.
Commissioner John Braun mo�oned to approve the agenda as writ en. Seconded by
Commissioner Gregory Hubbard. All in favor. Mo�oned carried 6-0.
3.Consider the following minutes:
3.1 April 9, 2024
Commissioner Gregory Hubbard mo�oned to approve the minutes as writ en. Seconded by
Commissioner John Braun. All in favor. Mo�on carried 6-0.
4.Open Forum.
No comments were made.
5.Review received monthly reports.
5.1-5.3
There were no representa�ves present from any fire departments.
5.2 Elk River Ambulance
A representa�ve was present. Response �mes were discussed, which is currently 7 to 8 minutes
with 13% of calls dispatched to Otsego. They are currently trying to replace their fleet with one
truck received and taking possession of a second truck by September and a third by March.
6.5 Allina EMS
Allina EMS was present. Response �mes have increased but have looked to move hours to cover
busier �me periods. Also trying to hire more people but the pool is small. The busiest day is
Friday and the busiest is Sunday.
5.3 Wright County Sheriff Department.
Sergeant Jason Oltmanns discussed the complaints from residents concerning the air brake noise
caused by trucks going to the distribu�on centers located along Queens Avenue. There had been
signs placed in the past restric�ng the use of air brakes. To solve the problem Leters were sent
to the distribu�on centers outlining the air brake rule. Also, a total of 28 hours among eight
Item 3.1
different depu�es were spent monitoring viola�ons from the posted signs. Out of the hundreds
of trucks they had one viola�on. The sheriff’s office also spoke with several workers, but no one
had no�ced any trucks using air brakes. He is unsure what is causing the air brake noise, but one
possibility is that there are hills that the trucks struggle to get up and make excessive noises
when that occurs.
36 calls were received related to the NorthStar Treatment Center located at 10990 95th Street NE
(County Road 39). Commissioner Dan Freiberg ques�oned why the sheriff’s office is involved
with the facility. Since it is known that they will be dealing with mental health issues the center
should have staff in place to deal with issues. Jason would like to work with the facility, but they
don’t always provide enough informa�on due to privacy concerns to fully inves�gate issues. One
incident was from someone leaving the facility and was found lying in the roadway of County
Road 39. Commissioner Kyle Heltemes asked when residents decide to leave have there been
any crimes commited. Jason said there have been no crimes that the department knows of, but
depu�es have been injured with one being biten. Dan asked if there were too many people at
the facility and Jason responded that they s�ll have issues with high occupancy and low
occupancy. The center has begun canine sweeps with the use of a private firm to detect drugs
inside the facility, but the residents can keep it in their car where there is no search conducted.
Jason spoke of a case that was considered a drug overdose has turned into a homicide. Two
teenagers went to a liquor store in Minneapolis to buy M30 pills. These were brought back to
Otsego and distributed. A teenager that received some of the pills distributed to another
teenager who consumed one and perished. The person that gave the pill to the perished
teenager is being charged in the case.
Finally, there was discussion around how 911 calls get relayed between coun�es and mutual aid.
Relaying calls can delay response �mes.
6.1 Emergency Services Director Updates.
Daryl Rausch – Finalized floor plan of new fire hall. Is interested in and will discuss with mutual
aid partners if an ambulance can be parked in the new facility. He also talked about response �es
and how they should be tracked.
6. Set Next Mee�ng.
May 21st, 2024 – This is a road cleanup day, Commissioners are asked to arrive 45 minutes early to clean
the ditches along Nashua Avenue NE prior to the mee�ng.
7. Nomina�ons for posi�ons were held. David Greeman will remain the Chair and the new Vice Chair is
Dan Freiberg. Kyle Heltemes will become the Secretary.
8. Adjourn.
Commissioner Mark Wolf mo�oned to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Kyle Heltemes
All in favor. Mo�on carried 6-0.
Adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Minutes taken/writen by Commissioner Kyle Heltemes