Agenda Packets - 2021/11/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council October 11, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 2 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3 A. SBM Chief Charles Smith. 5 Fire Chief Smith provided the Council with an update from the SBM Fire Department. He 6 explained from September 22 to October 5 SBM responded to five structure fires. He commented 7 on the hurricane disaster deployment SBM firefighters assisted with in Louisiana and Texas. 9 Council Member Meehlhause questioned how the administrative responsibilities were going with 10 Centennial. Fire Chief Smith explained the SBM Fire Department assumed full administrative 1 1 and management on September 2 and so far, things were going really well. He discussed how 12 SBM's leadership was being brought to this organization. He thanked Deputy Chief Dan Recka 13 for all of his efforts. 14 15 Mayor Mueller asked if the firefighters that deployed had done this previously. Fire Chief Smith 16 explained the three SBM firefighters volunteered for this deployment and noted these three 17 individuals had not been deployed previously. 18 19 Council Member Cermak asked how the recent open house went for the SBM Fire Department. 20 Fire Chief Smith reported the event was a tremendous success, noting there was a great deal of 21 participation from the public. 22 23 Fire Chief Smith presented the proposed 2022 SBM Capital Budget in detail with the Council. He 24 discussed the growth that was occurring in the service area and commented on the service needs 25 for Blaine, Spring Lake Park and Mounds View. He reported there was a need for a new fire station 26 (Station 6) in Blaine noting the current target for this project was 2024. The preliminary location 27 for this station would be on the southwest corner Main Street and Lexington Avenue. He 28 commented on how the population within the fire district had increased per the 2020 census data 29 making the SBM Fire Department the 4th largest department in Minnesota. He discussed the 30 amount Mounds View pays per capita for its residents in order to provide fire protection services. 31 He explained he appreciated the fact that the formula had leveled out and noted this would remain 32 the same for 2022. The Board recommendations for the 2022 Capital Budget were further reviewed 33 with the Council along with the equipment that would be purchased and cost share expenses for 34 Mounds View and Fire Chief Smith asked for comments and questions. 35 36 Council Member Meehlhause requested further information regarding SBM's fire equipment fund. 37 Finance Director Beer commented on the SBM's fire equipment fund. Fire Chief Smith noted this 38 was a work in progress and explained the department would continue to work to make this a self- 39 sustaining fund. 40 41 Council Member Meehlhause stated he appreciated the fact the cost share formula for the fire 42 department has leveled out. He explained he appreciated how well the JPA served the cities of 43 Blaine, Spring Lake Park and Mounds View. 44