I attended the Dunn township meeting on 3/13/07 and was very disappointed with Mr. Johnson. He said that he had spoken with D.L. Fire Chief Jeff Swanson about the possibility of D.L. covering Dunn Township. But when Mr. Johnson was specifically asked what D.L.F.D. would charge Dunn Township, he replied that he did not have any numbers from them. Then why, I wonder, was the amount posted in the Pippi Mayfield DL Tribune article? It appears that D.L.F.D. had given Mr. Johnson a rough number of $48,000 which is more than what is projected for Dunn to be paying with the new P.R.F.D. station.
The number one concern of Dunn Township residents should be public safety. The best way this can be accomplished is with quick response. It is common sense that a response from 5 miles would take considerable less time that a 25 mile response. (Mr. Johnson did not agree with this). With any emergency, minutes count! I have personally seen many accidents and fires and people die without rapid response from the fire department and EMS. Minutes count for a person trapped in a vehicle or an unconscious person in a burning building. Minutes count when it’s you or a loved one that needs help.
The next concern should be the cost. With the numbers currently given to us, it would cost Dunn Township residents $4.56 per year per $100,000 assessed value. Mr. Johnson can give the large "scary" number of $439,412 but it's no longer so scary when each household can look at what it's really going to cost them per year.
Another issue that each Dunn Township resident need to consider is the cost of the insurance. If we went with D.L., my insurance would increase $300.00 per year, my neighbor's $400.00 and another Dunn resident would increase $600.00. Now these are SCARY numbers!
Obviously, the increase would depend on location and the coverage amount. I would suggest that everyone contact their insurance agent and find out how it would affect their rates. But make sure you inform your agent that there is not a mutual aide agreement between D.L. and P.R. and the fire response would be coming from D.L.
Now for the bad news. I have spoke with the Otter Tail County Communications Supervisor and was informed that for Dunn Township to change fire service, they would need to change the E911 system. The E911 mapping system would need to be changed manually, and the in-house computer system would need to be changed. Dispatch cannot page D.L. Fire and all calls would need to be transferred to Becker County at a great loss of time. I was told the average would be 3 minutes for the call transfer! D.L. also does not have maps of our GIS or E911 system and would not know where our E911 addresses are located. D.L. also does not have Otter Tails radio frequency so there would not be any verbal communications to help direct the fire trucks. I was also informed if there was a change in the E911 system, O.T. dispatch and GIS would be charging a SUBSTANTIAL FEE to Dunn Township for the system change.
If this whole dispute is not about saving lives, is not about quality service (which we now receive), is not about any cost saving, and it's not about ownership (Mr. Johnson now said that it isn't), What is it REALLY about????
Carol Schmaltz
Dunn Township resident
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11 comments:
If the E911 system is changed; what happens with the ambulance service? Would that be routed to DL as well?
It's interesting that the cost to stay with Pelican, which no one has disputed has an excellent fire department, is less than the cost to switch to DL and the switch would have a large number of unknowns, yet a Township Supervisor seems to think that he has carte blanche to make a decision. What are the other Board Members saying?
The current ambulance service would not be effected and would continue using O.T. county dispatch.
Carol
The numbers from DL are also JUST operating costs. Does Mr. Johnson really think that one day down the road DL won't want to build a new fire hall or get new trucks?? That will only increase the "rough estimate". Pelican's numbers will only stay up until the new firehall is paid for!!
If Dunn Township switched would they expect to own a part of the Detroit Lakes Fire Department?
Service fees are used by most groups to cover the cost of business, most have no other source of revenue. Building upgrades, expansions, and maintenance are all costs that are either expensed or depreciated over a period of time.
Bottom line is Dunn will have no more ownership in the Detroit Lakes Fire Department Building (If their agreement with D.L. does not give them any ownership)than they would with the Pelican Area Fire Department. The fees that Detroit Lakes would charge would pay for expenses, including building upgrades, maintenance, and any future expansion.
At the Township meeting, I stated to Mr. Johnson that if we went with D.L. we would not have ownership there either. His reply was " It is not about ownership". But it sure has been about ownership in previous meetings and statements made in the paper.
Carol I applaud you for the information you compiled. You thought of a question that apparently no one else thought to ask and for that I thankyou as it is a very crucial one. Many thanks.
Stephanie Okke
There's more "doublespeak" from Mr Johnson in this week's Press. Maybe the township residents should be consulting with the township attorney to see if he can be ousted.
I think somebody should realize that Mike Johnson has nothing to gain by putting himself "out there" to make sure we ALL get fair and equal coverage. There is no question that the PRFD is capable, I am so sick and tired of people cutting someone down for doing their job for the residents of Dunn! For all the people that do nothing but critize, why don't you run for town board next time. I'll bet you'll just sit on your hands and let everyone else tell you what to do! I want to thank Mike for sticking his neck out and doing the best he can!! Also, since when does it make a difference if someone just moved into Dunn or not. Maybe you should find out how long he's been living here before you make that an issue too. Grow up people!
I don't think Mr. Johnson would be the subject of being cut down if he would just LISTEN to the many of us Dunn people who are preaching on behalf of the majority and common sense. Don't worry, there will be some trying for the board the next go round.
Hey guess what? Detroit Lakes doesn't have a water truck. When they fight a rural fire a water truck has to be called in from somewhere else. DUUUU!!!!!!!! Maybe we would have to eat crow and call Pelican.
Glen Larson
With no water truck, would that mean that DL would need one and ask the townships to help PAY for it? I'm guessing they would have to add on to their fire hall too? Who would pay for that? I'm sure not the city of DL.
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