CCMin_68Oct10_Meeting_w/citizens

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street at Robert Hall - a man came across the street to tell me and with extinguisher I ran over there and put out a car fire. A rubbish hauler drove in and with the assistance of the maintenance man we put out the fire from that rubbish truck. I was criticized for running a one man department. I did what I thought was right and I wasn't entitled to criticism. If it was two or three blocks away I would have put out a general alarm -maybe ~he car would be next to a house, I would have no way of knowing when it's further away. I feel the full time men are a good service to the community. We have never taken advantage of anything. We have had sick leave program and Mr. Slama and I have been here 16 years and have never taken sick leave we were not entitled to except when we were in the hospital. I think what you are doing is destroying the protection of the people. My job is immaterial - we are here to serve the people, not just five men. Donald Shannon -1890 Tatum Street. I would agree with these folks who have spoken in favor of putting consideration of service first. The insurance cost -as an insurance agent selling fire insurance in this area north of the Twin Cities for many years, I have found that home owners are very sensitive to the danger of fire in their home and sensitive to the need for adequate service protection. A matter of disturbing the situation such as we have - it seems to be working well -can be a matter of making people quite jittery in regard to their insurance ne~is and so taking your word there will be no change in classification -I have gone over rates a bit and for an average person $20,000 home - probably would carry 80% of insurance -to replacement cost to avoid becoming a co-insuror or having to pay part of the cost -at least $16 , 000. ~ prudent person would carry '"7:; 00 anx~ i~ j3:~mhe~fg~t inc~bas?o~his insurance another $1000 at least and to do so would pay out $2.40 year for extra $1000 of insurance. If he got real jittery and insured to the full value of that $20, 000 then $6 more a year. The reason I bring this out is to show that those of us who live here do value our homes and we are inclined to let things stay as they are as far as the fire department goes. ale Bergstedt -1659 Maple Knoll. I have been here six years only and I am quite conscious of the excellent job the council has done in the past six years and this relates to the men who have served and I want to thank Norm Ecklund for weighing everything in the balance .and coming to reasoned judgment. I would like to point out that figures don't lie, but ~ liars figure. The cost per residence is a poor basis to insure homes. We must multiply our residence cost by 4 in the family. Let's say we have family of 4 and x 4 to come up with true number against other cost that may or may not rise. Something like $21.60 cost per family of 4 per family protection. As I understand it when proposed new system we would have one single number to call for any emergency. Our phone call would go to Ramsey County Sheriff dispatcher so immediately the sheriff's vehicle would be notified. Police vehicle would be notified immediately - is it true the police vehicles have oxygen in them - a police officer would be able to administer oxygen. Ecklund -no rescusitator -for that reason I think we have allowed our .Fire Dept. to make emergency calls where at times they could be handled by sheriff's dept. If county were to call another car in it may be a little longer than we like. We propose to establish a rescue squad, highly trained, to go to emergency calls. The Sheriff is notified sometime after the call comes. And yet I am not so sure if we want to tie up our full time men on this. We do think the quickness of getting the police department to the scene is very important. Dale Bergstedt: On the basis of your answers I am highly in favor of the council's proposal nd we should have a higher level of protection. Mr. Bye: Matter of phone number - we could have the same number that would call both laces -the fire number here could ring at the sheriff's office, too. It would save that xtra number.