Fire department debate heats up meeting
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A funding request from both the rural community's attorney and the newly hired attorney representing the Fire District formed in February was discussed rather heatedly during the May 13 Brodhead Common Council meeting. Mayor Doug Pinnow expressed his frustration when he said the district had not been forthcoming with meeting minutes and general meeting reports. The people of Brodhead, Pinnow said passionately, have a right to know what is going on with these important matters. In addition, Pinnow also said that he had asked to meet with both Fire Commissioners Teresa Withee and Steve Peterson and was instead informed that the attorney of the District advised both not to meet with Pinnow. Pinnow continued by saying that although he had tried several times to contact the attorney for the District, calls have not been returned. Whether or not insurance had been established for the District, a federal tax identification number had been assigned and bills were being paid were all additional matters that were unknown to the Council. Attorney Jamie Olson explained that she had been asked by Rural's attorney to determine whether or not the city budget for 2013 could be considered an asset. Both Olson and City Attorney Mark Schroeder agreed that the legal wording of the signed document does not allow for such. Olson stated that during a previous district meeting she had attended, it was understood by all who attended that a budget would need to be created. Attorney Schroeder explained that a budget cannot be considered an asset as it is a composite of receipts and expense projections. Alderman Troy Nyman said that he recalled the rural fire board stating that they had money set aside to enter the fire district agreement in 2013, while the city had anticipated a 2014 launch. Alderman John Bernstein confirmed Nyman's recollection when he said that an individual from the Township and the attorney of the Rural Fire Association had both said that they had their portion of the funds for the new District and that everything was ready. Appointed fire commissioner for the District and Alderman Steve Peterson stated that there was a lot of pressure to approve the Fire Protection Agreement in February, but primarily he recalled the direct source of the pressure had come from the mayor. Peterson continued by saying that he had asked the mayor if budget information, and all other necessary details such as insurance were in the agreement document prior to their vote and that he remembered the Mayor stated at that time that all details were in the agreement. Peterson told members of the board that he had understood the budget would be established in 2014. Bernstein said that the city had initially proposed the district begin in 2014 but Rural had declined in favor of a 2013 start date. Peterson who had spoken plainly about his frustration during the Fire District budget discussion told Mayor Pinnow and the Council that it takes time to put together all of the details and that this (the Fire District) was just recently decided in February. Attorney Jamie Olson explained that both Rural and City had agreed to be responsible for their own portion of budget costs determined by equalized value and their own populations. This responsibility, stated in the signed Agreement, places the City's commitment to pay 49.8 percent of the Fire District Budget. Withee who had asked questions regarding the District budget from both the City Clerk Roseann Meixelsperger and City Attorney Mark Schroeder stated that they would hold another District meeting very soon to work out the details in question. Peterson told the council that minutes from that District meeting would be faxed to the city. Pinnow said that a report should be given to the Council following each District meeting where he as mayor of the city of Brodhead can ask questions thereby dissolving any continued uncertainty. The council voted to table the budget resolution for the time being as motioned by Withee. City Attorney Mark Schroeder suggested the council consider whether or not a city health officer is still needed. Attorney Schroeder pointed out that changes had been made to Wisconsin statutes, now stating that the County Health Department can serve for all. This means that the city would no longer need to maintain a local board of health with its nine members or more. The city health officer does not need to be a doctor, and has always been for the city of Brodhead, an employee from either health clinic in Brodhead. The city's current officer no longer wishes to act as this representative for Brodhead so should the Council decide to keep up a local board of health a new city health officer would need to be appointed. About this, Alderman Bernstein stated that the local school and county nurses could be contacted regarding this matter by Clerk Meixelsperger in order to collect more information. The board voted that this be revisited for consideration at the next meeting.
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