| April 2007 Quarterly Report Posted: April 28, 2007 |
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| In accordance with the Joint Powers
Agreement, we have provided the Board and both City Councils with
a quarterly report outlining events and updates for the South Metro
Fire Department (SMFD). Quarterly Report Highlights: We have all been working towards an operational date of the new South Metro Fire Department. One of the major overall struggles has been, “merging two operating fire departments is like building a car while we drive down the freeway”. It seems every moment we have that is not spent with our regular duties is being spent building a new fire department. However, significant progress is being made. Firefighter Contracts The two city managers have been working with the IAFF to create one contract. This has proven to be very complex and time consuming process for parties involved. Recently reported it sounds like progress is being made. This is a high priority and major task. Liaison Report Highlights This was a major milestone for SMFD. We discovered that while we were merging the Board was working on administrative issues and the fire staff was working on operational issues. We discovered a disconnect, so we jointly implemented a liaison group to bring these types of issues to the forefront for resolution. In addition we discovered communication and perceptions were becoming problematic; Communication between the Board and Firefighters, Firefighters and the Board and between the firefighters themselves. The liaison group is comprised of two board members and two fire captains. We held a department meeting to collectively review the critical task list and the Liaison group reports seeking input. The Board has taken measures to improve communications along with the firefighters and measures to adopt recommendations are under way. Financial/Administrative The Fire board is working to create and complete all policies regarding financial and administrative needs with the input of the two city finance directors. Additionally, the Board is working out the details of who will process financial needs and some of the very detailed administrative needs currently being provided by the two respective city finance directors and/or HR directors. Critical Task List From the beginning, we have been working from a very large and complex Gant Chart and a list of Board tasks. The Gant chart has itemized over 300 individual tasks that need completion at some point in the future, the Board has requested a critical task list which is a combined list . The critical task list outlines items that absolutely need completion before the operational date. Significant progress is being made. The list was built with input from all parities involved. Health East Contract As you know, the Health East contract dates back to the early 1990’s and had a provision that was discovered that is no longer acceptable. The City attorney is working towards a solution with Health East. Health East is in the process of sending us a proposal which is likely to have a significant increase in our insurance coverage for the individual cities. We are attempting to fix a long standing problem from the early 1990’s. Grant As you may know, South Metro Fire received a Fire Grant for $115,000, the grant is used towards offsetting some of the cost for the 800 MHz radios. Implementation is expected late summer/early fall. Fee Schedule The fee schedule has been adopted by the SMFD Board. The City of West St. Paul and South St. Paul have been presented the Fire Board adopted fees for consideration. Formal adoption by the two cities will be presented at an upcoming Council meeting for your consideration. Service Agreement This is an agreement between the two cities and the South Metro Fire Board that outlines specifically the expectations of the two cities. Progress is being made and we are close to the final version. Again, formal adoption by the two cities will be presented at an upcoming Council meeting for your consideration. Election of Officers At the SMFD Board meeting in March, the board elected their officers. Member Wright from WSP Council is the President, SSP Council member Niederkorn is the Vice President, SSP Council Member Lehmann is the Treasurer and Board member Gergen as the Secretary. Fire Code Adoption As you may recall, the two city councils recently adopted the new SMFD Fire code. The process included a committee that studied the codes and created one common code. The code is now adopted in both cities. Uniforms The dedicated Uniform committee has implemented the new uniforms. All members of each department are now wearing the new South Metro Fire uniforms. This committee was made up of members from each department. Truck Markings As you may see, the trucks have been relabeled to represent SMFD. The design was a direct product of a dedicated committee from both departments. We are completing the station identifications once the weather warms up. We will be indicating the department name, station number and city to keep a local identification for the public. Department Policies The SOP committee has been working towards creating one common set of Standard Operating Policies (SOP’s). Progress has been slow due to the labor contracts going slow. We are however making progress. Members of each department have a spot at the table to develop these new policies. Command Staff As you may know, we conducted a State search for our Fire Chief and Asst. Chief. John Ehret formally of West St. Paul was appointed Chief and Mark Erickson of South St. Paul was appointed Asst. Chief. Current WSP Asst. Chief Linda McMillan was appointed as the new Fire Marshal. Technology The original Technology budget under the one time cost budget was roughly $169,000. The South Metro Fire board last year approved $30,000 for the department which would get the department up and running. A major reason for the reduction is due to many of the uncertainties surrounding the Dakota Communication Center (DCC). Currently the DCC has not determined the reporting software or platform which fire will dispatched under. We thought it was a very prudent move to hold off on the purchases until the “dust settles” with the DCC and we know what to plan for in the near future. The department committees work has allowed us to make the switch to the South Metro network in mid February. South Metro emails have switched and our supporting files are heading towards being common. Our emails are now on the South Metro site, again under one common platform. We continue to work out solutions for the fire reporting software knowing we don’t want to spend significant money on a potentially short term solution. Committees Much of the work we perform is completed by groups of firefighters, these committees have performed outstanding work and continue to do so. Thanking all of the Firefighters who have worked on these committees is important. |
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| Update from the Fire Chief Posted: December 4, 2006 |
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Hello!! Since this is really my first formal update, I would like to start off by saying I am honored to be named the first South Metro Fire Chief. Although my official start date has yet to be determined by the Fire Board, we are working towards the Operational Date for the new South Metro Fire Department. As many of you may know, I have been with the West St. Paul Fire Department for twenty four years, and have served as Fire Chief for the past nine years. My background includes, graduation from the University of Cincinnati with honors, graduation from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program and recently receiving the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs, “Officer of the Year” award. The new department will serve the cities of South St. Paul and West St. Paul. City budgets’ have always and will always be in a state of flux. The merger of these two fire departments will help to directly address budget concerns while maintaining service provided by professional firefighters these communities have come to expect. The merger has been a long and sometimes difficult
process. As difficult as change can be, we are committed to the
merging of these two departments. We are confident that we are creating
a next generation department offering stable, reliable services
performed by well trained firefighters. We continue to work through
the change process and feel that we are making progress towards
a department offering a safe, positive work environment for your
firefighters.
As we continue to approach the “Operational Date” which has not formally been determined, we will continue to work towards a successful and seamless transition to the new South Metro Fire Department If you have any questions please free to contact us. All of the members of South Metro Fire thank you and offer our best work in responding to the emergencies within our community. Your safety and well being are our mission. Best Regards, John Ehret, Fire Chief |
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| Explosion and Fire in South St.
Paul Posted: October 12, 2006 |
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Just before 2 P.M., on Oct. 11, firefighters from South Saint Paul were dispatched to the Bridgepoint Business Park for a reported explosion at Epoxical, Inc., a facility that manufactures resins and polyurethanes for automotive and aerospace. The initial response was one engine and one ladder from South Saint Paul and an engine from West Saint Paul on automatic mutual aid. South Saint Paul Engine 21 arrived just a minute later and found heavy smoke and fire showing from the one-story facility and was greeted by the owner of the facility who said that all personnel were accounted for. Several large fire balls shot 50 feet into the air as the thick black smoke could be seen for miles almost immediately. "The owner came up to us and said 'If we lose everything in that building, that's fine. I just want to try and save everything in the little office building'" said Interim South Saint Paul Fire Chief Harry Rund. The office area, on the west side of the complex, was separated from the intense fire by a fire wall. Mutual aid was requested with an aerial platform from West Saint Paul, an aerial platform, engine and Telesqurt from Inver Grove Heights and a Telesqurt from Mendota Heights. With a sustainable water supply in the industrial complex, large diameter hose was laid out and supplied five aerial devices that poured water into the building. Several handlines were also placed into operation. Area residents quickly evacuated, with over 2,000 people forced from the business park alone. Area roads, including Interstate 494 were shut down due to the heavy smoke pouring from the building. Regional Haz Mat units from the Dakota County Special Operations Team and the Saint Paul Fire Department responded to the scene took air samples from areas where the smoke was pushed to by steady southerly winds. As far south as five miles, schools held children inside until air samples proved clean. It took about 90 minutes to get the fire under control and units stayed on scene for several hours mopping up. Early estimates put damage at $2 million. PETER MATTHEWS |
 Photo by: Peter Matthews Firehouse.com |
