MASON CITY – The Mason City Council and Mayor will hold a work session Tuesday at 4 PM at City Hall, second floor conference room.
On the agenda, the council will discuss paperless council meetings, police and fire building assessment and Fire Department shift hours.
The council has already decided to hold off somewhat on the paperless meetings due to concerns of communication between council members and each other or use of the internet.
Fire and police buildings both have expensive needs, including air conditioning at the police station.
Fire Department shift hours are a favorite topic of Councilman Travis Hickey, who has questioned Fire Chief Bob Platts a number of times on a change from 24 hour shifts to possible 8 hour shifts, in an attempt to limit overtime for employees.
Also, the Council will discuss its “priorities,” which include the possible elimination of the city’s Sanitation Department, “streamlining” the Fire Department, the passing of a local option sales tax, and a meeting with the Human Rights Commission.
“I guess I don’t understand why a firetruck is discharged with a ambulance but maybe there is a reason.”
The truck is dispatched on calls where additional manpower may be needed. For example, a patient too heavy to carry safely with two people, or a patient who requires advanced care, and cannot halt treatment to lift and transport. Oft times, police on the scene will assist, but having manpower on the scene at the same time the Amubulance arrives, saves what can be a critical delay to the patient.
Also an ambulance taking 20 mins to get somewhere is critical delay to the patient. Why send that gas guzzling truck when they could send a police car with 2 officers????
Looks like they need to talk about letting criminals out with deferred judgements & probation. Look at everyone on here that committed crimes & went right back into society with little or no jail time. Time to fire some crooked cops & judges!!!!
I really don’t have much of a problem with the Fire Department. They are well trained and very professional. I guess I don’t understand why a firetruck is discharged with a ambulance but maybe there is a reason. I know the other night we had three fire trucks and two ambulances going up and down the street because someone turned in smoke smell in the area. We have several people who have legal fires up here at night and I told the police office that when he came by looking for a fire. Seemed like a real waste but I guess if there had been a fire it would have been worth it. As for the police department, why not move them to the law enforcement center? They have room.
The answer to you question about a fire truck going with the ambulance is on the cities website and has been answered many times in the media and at council meetings.
that call actually came in as a lot of smoke coming from a garage or house. That is why the full response was made. A normal burning complaint is handled by one unit.
Thank you Mark. That makes sense.
It would go down as one of the biggest mistakes made by a city council in this town if they vote to eliminate the sanitation service. Look at Clear Lake, Nora Springs Rookwell they all have private haulers and they pay more and they have less service.
I agree. The garbage pick-up should STAY AS IT IS!!! Private firm would eventually raise prices and we will have NO CONTROL! I can’t believe these idiots are still considering this change, and we will pay for it!
I think it’s time for Lionel Foster to be replaced.
That one is LONG over due in my opinion.
If you don’t go to the human right meetings and hear how it is run you have know no right to talk about Lionel. You guys just don’t understand what he does or the commission does.
Indeed, from firsthand knowledge, his office is a large asset to our community. An office where politics should be left outside the door, and the needs of the community be attended to!
Why not DOWNSIZE both as our population gets smaller and smaller?
SBT- I’m not sure that downsizing the police force is a good move considering the crime that is going on lately. As far as the fire department I can tell you that it is being run as lean as possible. The staffing is lower then some national standards suggest for the fire apparatus but we get the job done with the resources we have. On on “average” day we have about 13 calls for service. Many are EMS calls and a few are fire calls. We average between 1-2 out of town transfers each day also. So far the EMS side of the department has covered it’s cost (labor, equipment, supplies etc.) and even contributes to utilities and building maintenance from the fees collected for ambulance transports.
why not build a combo police/fire station on the empty lot across from kum and go at 122 and Federal?
Are you kidding me? That would cost millions in taxpayer dollars and IS NOT NEEDED!!!
A couple of things about the old Mechanical Air site that would make it a less then desirable site. 1st it is too congested of traffic area for fast and efficient deployment of fire and ambulance vehicles. 2nd it is only about 3 blocks from the current fire station. While the city is considering replacing the police station they are not thinking about replacing the fire station but rather adding a satellite or sub station for faster responses. Back in 1939 this was done with the “south station”. It was closed when the new station was built in the 70’s. The area they are looking to cover is Mason City’s west side. The location of a police station is not as critical since the officers are usually out in their patrol cars in multiple locations. The problem with the police station is the limited size and limited ability to expand at the current location. The fire station was added on to 8 years ago when EMS transport was added to the department’s duties. A problem with both buildings is that they were built in the 1970’s and not a lot of thought was given to making them energy efficient. Some upgrades have been done over the years but the is only so much that can be done. I do appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Mark, across the street is the old Smith building. It has just what they need for a port, office space, and visability. With some modification, it is perfect for their needs. And I assume it would be cheaper to amend a building than build new. The access there is as good as you can get for fast responses.
I feel it is worth a consideration.
If we are wasting tax dollars here, why not just build a new police station smack dab in the middle of the north end. Hell, just tear down those three crack selling houses on the half circle. One already got torched anyway didnt it.