05-09-1994 CC MIN - JOINT
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ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL/FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK SESSION
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER FIRE STATION
MONDAY, MAY 9, 1994
Councilmembers Present:
Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Dietz, Scheel, Farber
and Holmgren
Fire Deportment members Present: Eighteen Fire Department members including Chief
Anderson, Assistant Chiefs Nystrom, Trunnell, and
McCartney
Stoff Present: Pot Klaers, City Administrator
1 . Call Meetina To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the work session of the Elk River City
Council and Fire Department was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman.
2. Work Session Discussion
Assistant Chief Jim Nystrom started the meeting with introductions of 011 the
members present.
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Jim stated that the Fire Deportment has started work on the selection of 0 new
Fire Chief and offered some background information on the responsibilities of the
Chief's position. Jim distributed some handouts related to the duties of the Fire
Chief, 0 sample Fire Chief job description, and some chain of command and
assignment options for the Fire Department as it relates to the Fire Chief position
and the implementation of 0 fire inspections program. Jim also reviewed the
tentative timetable for the Fire Department to offer recommendations to the City
Council on the priorities of the Deportment relative to the Chief's position and on
inspection program.
Mayor Duitsman indicated that no decisions have been made at this time by the
Council and that they are open to looking at all options to fulfill the needs of the
Department and to fulfill the needs for an inspections program. The Mayor
indicated that in his mind the number one responsibility of the Fire Chief is to be
the leader at the fire scene and the number two responsibility is the inspections
program, and all other duties fall behind these top two assignments.
Discussion took place regarding whether or not the Fire Department could
function with a volunteer Chief and a full time Fire Marshal to do inspections. It
was noted that if the Department goes to a volunteer Chief position, then more
responsibility would fall on the Assistant Chiefs and some minor financial
compensation would have to be made for this additional responsibility.
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Discussion took place regarding the chain of command sheets that were
distributed and the fact that the Fire Marshal would report to the Fire Chief
regardless if the Chief is a full time or volunteer position. It was acknowledged
that if the Chief is a volunteer position and the Fire Marshal position is established,
City CouncillFire Department Work Session
May 9, 1994
Page 2
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then this Fire Marshal position could help in the administrative responsibilities of
the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Russ Anderson expressed his feelings that the City was ready for a full
time Fire Chief and a full time Marshal and that the work load merits these two
positions. Russ also indicated that, from his pOint of view, the number one
inspection priority is the apartment complexes.
The Fire Department as a group was adamant that the Chief has responsibility for
all things related to the fire inspection program and that the Marshal should
report directly to that position. Also, the Department was adamant that the Fire
Chief position, whether a volunteer position or 0 full time position, should be filled
from within the Department.
Discussion took place regarding whether or not a full time Chief vacant position
must be advertised and, regardless of whether the position is advertised, how the
City responds if it receives applications for the position from outside the Elk River
Fire Department (Le., Fire Department employees from suburban communities).
Assistant Chief Nystrom indicated that the Department would be ready to make
a recommendation to the Council in June on their desires for the Fire Chief
position and the inspections program and on the goals of the Fire Department for
the next few years.
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The Council indicated its desire to have some priorities on the options presented
by the Department as it may not be possible to meet all of the goals of the Fire
Department at the present time. The prioritizing of the options will help the
Council understand what are the ultimate goals and how it can move forward to
achieve those goals.
At this time (6:50 p.m.), the City Council recessed and indicated that it would
reconvene at the Elk River City Hall to do a few brief "Other Business" items.
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At 7:05 p.m. the City Council meeting reconvened at Elk River City Hall.
3. Other Business
The City Administrator requested permission from the City Council to hire a
Receptionist intern, Kristy Mansfield, who currently attends Elk River Senior High
and a local Junior College. The Administrator indicated he would like to pay
Kristy the minimum wage and, when appropriate, adjust this pay to $6.00 per hour
based on her work performance.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE HIRING KRISTY MANSFIELD
STARTING AT MINIMUM WAGE. COUNCILMEMBER SCHEEL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
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The City Administrator provided a handout to the Council on the results of the
Wage Incentive Plan (WIP) tests. According to the memo from the Chief of
City CouncillFire Department Work Session
May 9, 1994
Page 3
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Police, seven of eleven officers passed the skills section of the WIP and only one
officer took the physical fitness section of the test, but this officer passed.
The City Administrator indicated that the MnDOT Elk River tour is scheduled for
Tuesday, June 7, 1994, beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m. The City Council
concurred with this date.
4. Adiournment
There being no further business, COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO ADJOURN THE
MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
The meeting of the Elk River City Council was adjourned at 7: 10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
-::p~J),~s
Patrick D. Klaers ~J
City Administrator
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