Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/01/2012

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Press Release Contact information: Kurtis Ulrich City Administrator City of Ramsey (763) 433-9845 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Western Anoka County Communities to Establish Joint Fire Services Study Group November 7, 2011— Anoka County, Minnesota — Five Anoka County communities announced today the formation of a study group to look at the feasibility of joint fire services. Recent informal discussions between elected and appointed officials of several western Anoka County communities have resulted in a plan to study the feasibility and benefits of a developing a joint fire service organization that would service these western Anoka County communities in a cost effective manner. The Joint Fire Services Study Group will be charged with the duty of analyzing the benefits of a joint fire service and potential barriers to implementation. The City Councils of Bethel, Nowthen, Oak Grove, St. Francis and Ramsey, will be asked to consider the appointment of members to a formal study group to continue the exploration of a possible joint fire service among the cities. In addition to an elected and administrative official from each community, a fire department representative will be appointed from each community as an ex-officio member. Mayor Jerry Tveit, the St. Francis representative to the group, stated, "Local governments have an obligation to the local taxpayers to provide basic City services in the most cost effective manner." There are several joint fire services already operating effectively in Anoka County, including the Anoka -Champlin, Centennial, and Spring Lake Park -Blaine -Mounds View fire departments. The group will study whether the opportunity exists for these five communities to work cooperatively to provide the same or better service level at a reduced cost to taxpayers. Mayor Mark Korin from Oak Grove stated, "This effort will give our communities a chance to look at a structure that could improve services and make the best use of the limited resources that City's have today." Ramsey Fire Chief Dean Kapler noted, "Currently each City in the study runs independent fire services, except the City of Nowthen, which contracts with the City of Ramsey. Further, he added that "no decision has been made about whether a combined fire service is a good idea, but we need to examine this option to see if it provides an opportunity." The group will be charged with providing a written report of findings back to the participating communities with a recommendation on how to proceed, no later than April 1, 2012. ### 34