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