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090 <br />COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 12, 1988 <br />Mr. Bruen said he felt one of the biggest problems with the <br />JPA is that there is no provision for an orderly withdrawal <br />from the district. How would Lino Lakes provide fire <br />coverage for it's citizens if the district is dissolved? <br />Mayor Benson explained options are being explored such as <br />establishing a Lino Lakes Fire Department or contracting <br />with neighboring cities. <br />Mayor Benson noted areas in the Fire District budget where <br />the increase is over 100 %. Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Bruen <br />discussed these items with the Council with one item being <br />the half -time chief position. Mr. Bruen said this would <br />allow the district to achieve a level of organization that <br />it has not had in the past and eventually this would become <br />a full -time position. <br />Mr. Neal asked if the full requested funding for the budget <br />was available would the district guarantee that station No. <br />2 would be fully staffed with trained personnel. Mr. Bruen <br />said that as soon as the station is operational it will be <br />fully staffed with twenty firefighters. He said he felt <br />each of the three communities should have at least one fully <br />operational station in the event that the district is <br />dissolved. Mr. Benjamin said he felt it was important to <br />amend the JPA to insure that each city owns the buildings <br />and equipment in it and renegotiate the depreciation <br />schedule. <br />Mr. Reinert explained that he has always been an advocate of <br />shared services. He also expressed concern at whether <br />agreeing to the budget request of the district was the <br />solution. He noted that if every department in Lino Lakes <br />brought a motion such as this to the Council, the Council <br />would abdicate it's responsibility to the community of <br />operating efficiently and effectively. <br />Mr. Benjamin noted that other issues need to be addressed <br />such as morale and "trust level" and felt this was because <br />of lack of communication. Mr. Benjamin suggested a <br />restructuring of the JPA so that the member cities can put a <br />cap on the budget. He felt the budget was realistic and not <br />padded. He also said that each year Lino Lakes has funded <br />less than what was requested in the budget and the district <br />was able to operate and will do it again. <br />Mr. Bisel explained that the checks and balances are with <br />the Council but now the district is saying if they do not <br />get their way it is finished. He said the people of Lino <br />PAGE 3 <br />