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41 INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: MAYOR,CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FROM: JOEL A.HEWITT FIRE CHIEF SUBJECT: MINNEAPOLIS PROPOSAL DATE: 8/14/2001 CC: As you are aware the City of Minneapolis has extended an offer to our city to provide fire,rescue and EMS services.As you consider this proposal I would request of you to consider the text of my random thoughts contained within this memorandum. As a steward of the public's trust and in that the responsibility of ensuring fire and EMS services, including being prudent with their funds. I have tenured their proposal to you for consideration, fulfilling my obligations of my office to you the Council.This however has been done with mixed emotions due to the pending results of what this means for the citizens,the Council, the City Manager,the firefighters,the firefighter's families,the retired firefighter's, the fire chief and the community as a whole, the City of St.Anthony. In reviewing the proposal,the decision if based on just dollars and sense would be relatively easy, the Minneapolis Fire Department and their leadership is a highly respected leader in our service and would provide a good service to our community,reducing expenditures of operating own fire department operation.However I believe the decision is much more complex and compassionate than just counting dollars and cents. These are my thoughts that I ask you to bear in mind when you consider this decision.The decision I believe is again not one just to be based on dollars and cents,behind these dollars and cents are people not only the people who are our customers'who call on us on the worst day of their lives,it is the people past and present who have been or currently are our firefighters who serve our citizenry, in addition to the families who support us,who are left behind at home. The providing of Fire Protection services are one of a communities fundamental duties to it people, however over the years a Fire Departments will tend to become one of the pillars of a community,as they are made up of the community,a pillar which is I believe is of the St.Anthony Fire Department. The individuals who have had and do currently make up your department have dedicated themselves, their families and their lifestyles to the calling of a St.Anthony firefighter.Their calling is the difference between our department and the Minneapolis department due to the fact,when we answer the call for many of us it is to our community our home,this is what I meant when I discussed foundational community pillars.This calling is the duty we answer on a moments notice when we go out into the community to save our citizens and their property from the ravages of fire or we answer the call to fight for their life when they suffer a medical emergency or when we teach them to save themselves from heart attack or life s medical emergencies through the education of CPR and first aid or we teach them to save themselves when faced with a fire in their home,we are also there to assist them when the city floods by keeping them from harms way when the streets flood or assist