An Open letter to the City of Pelican Rapids (2)

Is It Worth It?

As I read and hear about the proposed fire hall with regards to Dunn Township, I can’t help but wonder if all the discussions and ultimatums are really worth it.

The Pelican Rapids Fire Dept is owned by the City of Pelican Rapids. For an annual fee they provide a service to the surrounding townships. We in Dunn Township have no right to tell the City of Pelican Rapids what we will pay for fire protection. They provide a service to us and we pay for that service.

The annual service is not an arbitrary figure that the city sets each year. It is determined by a contract established long before Mr. Johnson was elected to his position as Dunn Township Supervisor. If Dunn wishes to pay the price of fire protection they can. If not, they need to get protection somewhere else.

If Dunn decides to get fire protection some where else, Detroit Lakes, Vergas, Barnesville, etc., it has to cause delays in protection. Will that delay allow for increased damage? Maybe spread to the next house or building? Will that delay result in death or some similar tragedy?

The big question to me is why all the arguments and threats? Has anyone looked at the cost per Dunn property owner? It is certainly not worth risking a 5 – 10 minute delay in getting firefighters to the scene.

To help build the fire hall as it is now planned, it would cost the Dunn Township owner of a $100,000 home $4.56 per year to be a part of the process. A $200,000 home would pay $9.24 per year and a $500,000 piece of property would pay a whopping $22.80 per year for a new fire building. This is hardly breaking the bank for Dunn Township residents.

Mike Johnson has proposed that the City of Pelican Rapids pay for $500,000 or half of the million dollar price tag and the townships will pay for the remainder. Dunn’s share of the remaining $500,000 would be $15,708 per year in debt retirement. The threat would save the township $6,262.60 or $1.32/year for a resident with a $100,000 taxable property value. A $500,000 taxable value would save $6.60 per year if the threat from our supervisors was honored.

I would like to ask our supervisors: is your battle worth it? If we opt out of the fire services contract, is it worth $5, $10, or $20 per year savings to have inferior service? The mandate of only paying for half would save our wealthiest residents less than $10 per year.

According to your threats to the City of Pelican Rapids, you would save that much and more in gas and time, to not be required to honor the goods and services of DL, Vergas or Barnesville because of the fire protection they would provide.

There are some times where it makes sense to pay for a service rather than own it. I think that this is one of those times.

Donald Beck, Dunn Township Resident

Is It Worth It - a response

You are correct, Don, the city charges a fee for their service. A fee Dunn has always paid, and is happy to continue to pay. This issue, for about the 100th time, is not about service. It is about the city's attempt to have those to whom they provide service also pay for THEIR fire hall.

By the way, we have every right to tell the city what we will pay for fire service. As in all businesses, if we don't like the price, we can look elsewhere. However, for the 101st time, this is about the fire hall, not about fire service.
'It has to cause delays in protection'. I'm surprised, Don, that you would stoop to innuendo and vieled threat. Death and tragedy, you say. As is said; 'show me the money'. Document your assertion. If you can't, then zip it. I've talked to these fire departments, have you? Or are you just joining in the attempt to scare the residents of Dunn. That's easier than doing your homework and coming up with facts, isn't it, Don.

It will cost Dunn $439,412, under the city's current proposal to build them THEIR fire hall. You can slice it and dice it any way you want, $439,412 is the number. And by the way, for the 102nd time, this is over and above the cost of service, this is Dunn's cost of THEIR fire hall. This is fact, not innuendo or veiled threat. By the way, Don, next time I need to buy a truck, I'll come and see if your approval of a 'plan' by which the owner (me) only has to pay 30% of the cost is still open. If it's good enough for the city, it's good enough for me and I'll sign up. Funny, I'll bet I won't find many takers, will I.

Is our battle worth it. This is about fairness to EVERYONE, documented by numbers. Not Pelican's idea of fairness FOR everyone else. And, for the 103rd time, this is not about fire service, this is about the fire hall.

Mike Johnson, Dunn township

Still, Is It Worth It

My question to you and everyone else is still is it worth it. In your comment, you mentioned the total cost to Dunn Township was $439,412. This figure is spread out over 20 years and will still cost the owner of a $100,00 piece of property 38 cents a month or $91.20 over 20 years.

Most of the people that will foot the bill for the $21,970.60 are unaware of the situation. The few that I have spoken with have no problem with helping to pay for a new fire hall based on the minimal cost to them.

When you look at the big picture Dunn Township property owners are paying $439,412 over 20 years. Reality is, we are paying a minimal amount on a yearly basis for fire protection and a building and no matter how you negotiate things, or try to improve things there are minimal cost savings involved and a possible compromise of fire protection.

It seems to me that you have gone all in to a pot that will not win you a lot of money.

Donald Beck, Dunn Resident