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any commitment about fire classification, but if they made a survey, it would possibly <br />be different. A number of statements are incorrect that were made tonight. About <br />eight men available during day time - I can only count four men -that are within the <br />Village of Falcon Heights. Luey is traveling auditor -what is his availability? Hermes - <br />he works and it costs him money to leave -Ron Peterson, he can`t assure us he will be <br />available 100% of the time. Woehrle, doesn't want to drive equipment at all. There are <br />many factors that are not brought out into the open. If this is for the benefit of the <br />people, I can't see it. Only when the paid men are on duty does it mean eight daytime <br />men. They are even counting one man who is not even a full member of the department yet. <br />Mrs. Schultz: Everyone of these part time men don't have another good paying job -why <br />are they going to take away the jobs of the full time men? <br />Warkentien objected to her bringing this up. <br />Ray Garcia 1906 Prior Avenue: I came down here without any preconceived notion about <br />what was going to happen. I am pretty much aware the crowd is one way. A couple <br />things to think about -we are subjecting our elected representatives and asking them to <br />institute a program for us - we think our program will give us better service. You chose <br />these men. I don't think it is right to get vindictive. I think you should view this <br />impartially. You never make progress unless you are willing to take some chances. <br />Nobody can assess those risks. We are not the first ones - if we take thisstep of <br />operating with strictly volunteer department. We are not that much smarter than the other <br />people in other communities. I think you have got to give them credit. We are fortunate <br />in that we are small. One corner to get through and everyone is worried. Is this going <br />to give us more trouble than in other villages? We elected these fellows and you have <br />got to give them a chance to do it, without cutting them off. Consider it impartially <br />• and look at some of the other villages and then make your decision. <br />Mrs. Horton: What he said is just fine. We have reached this level -the other <br />villages have not come this far. Go forward -buy radios -there is no reason to go <br />backward just because the other communities are there. <br />Mr. Shannon: We are paying out about four times as much per person as some other <br />villages. I don't believethe comparison is a just one. Many of these other villages <br />have higher classification -Shoreview has class 9. The former Mayor pointed out that <br />with the staff that we had some years ago we could have given consideration to Roseville <br />without too much expense. To me that indicates a small village like this is bound to <br />have a higher cost because of the fact that we are providing service having smaller <br />number of people. We do have to maintain a certain size of organization to operate <br />efficiently. <br />Warkentien: We are trying to get our costs in line with adequate fire department. We <br />thought we would blanket in our paid men with the St. Paul Department. We think the <br />village is entitled to more than this . We are, charged with the responsibility of keeping <br />taxes down. We are spending too much from a practical budget matter. I feel keenly <br />on this. I have seen our Fire Dept. work and they are a strange breed of cat. It takes <br />more than a dollar to be one. <br />Mr. Brown 1808 Asbury: If I were a member of the council, I would ask that each citizen <br />~~ give proper weight to factors involved (1) protection (2) economics (3) personnel, <br />I am in complete sympathy with. Economics -the data available speaks for itself. <br />Protection -someone has spoken out on that fact. Six or seven communities have taken <br />the other approach. Each fact should be given proper weight. <br />Ecklund: One other community -Bloomington -completely volunteer -Fire Department has <br />no sleepers . <br />Warkentien: said that despite the fact that we didn't have ~~ hydrants throughout the <br />whole village = we had a 6 rating. <br />Dale Bergstedt asked Mr. Shannon if he had ,some ratings of other villages and Mr. Shannon <br />