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CITY COUNCIL MEETING, FEBRUARY 16, 1982 -2- 6. USE OF FIRE HALL - FIRE CHIEF BRUCE KUETTNER; Chief Kuettner presented the Fire Departements request and position to turn the responsibility -sand use of the old Council Chambers over to the Fire Department. The Department indicated the hall could be used by community groups; but, they would like to control that use. --Morgan -all .City property .is_a City, resource - would like to understand why the Fire Department feels they need to have control over the hall. No problem with the Firemen having use of the fire hall; but, questions why they feel they must have control. Kuettner - they do not want control; but, responsibility (for the hall and its use). Firemen's feelings about taking over -the responsibility of the hall are'based on abuse of the facility and Fire Department property in the past. Several keys to the Fire Hall are out and unaccounted for; department equipment has been found missing; furniture has been damaged, with no restitution or repair made.- just asking for control and responsibility of saying who comes in and who goes out. Want to know when someone from Lake Elmo or outside of Lake Elmo is.. using the Fire Department's building. Want to protect the fire trucks as well as equipment purchased by the Fire Department, Requested that the locks to the building be changed and limit the number of keys that are issued. --Morgan - what the Firemen are asking can be handled by changing the locks and limiting the keys. Feels this request is more for making the hall area into a recreational area for the firemen. Nothing wrong with this; but cannot exclude the rest of the City from having use of the area .upon request. ( - Kuettner - related problems involving the Jaycees -and -their use of, the fire hall. --Novak - would be more responsible if the office kept -the calandar of requests; but need to make those individuals who use the hall better aware of the rulesand regulations on use. As far as recreational use - use the smaller area behind the Council Chambers for actual recreation and have the Council area or the whole fire hall be primarily used for the firemen's education or meetings and programs for the department. Community groups would have to fit into the Fire Department's schedule for its use. --Kuettner - this is the objective of the firemen - bothers him that the Council feels this will only be used as a recreational area. Needed an area for the men to sleep after the Stillwater fire. Need a break area. --Fraser - someone has to control the building - logical groups to do this are the -,City staff or the firemen. Reasonable and logical that the firemen should want this responsibility and control. Firemen in a better position to control. Fire Department and the Council need to work together .to set the limits,and_define the parameters of use. Would not like to see things that would give the impression that the hall was a 'party hideaway'. --Kuettner - Not intented to be used as a recreational room. Firemen would like to get together with a Council member and work out the guidelines for uses. Willing to open the hall up to anyone when not being used by the Fire Department. Fire Department will also ast tume�the responssbility °of keeping the hall clean. --Fraser - volunteered to work wiLh a Fire Department representative(s) to work on the guidelines for use, maintenance etc. of the Fire Hall. A•reporta will be prepared for Council consideration. --Mottaz - this is the only community space available - shares Morgan's position that the City Office should control the use of the Fire Hail - this space should be made available to the community.