Marshfield committee backs two-year renewal of regional HAZMAT response contract

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Barnes told the Finance, Budget & Personnel Committee on June 17 that the city’s contract to participate in the Wisconsin hazardous materials response system is due to expire at the end of the month and asked the committee to recommend approval by the common council.

Barnes said the Marshfield Fire Department has participated in the statewide system since 1992 and that the city is partnered with the Wisconsin Rapids team as a type 3 response team. "This contract will be a 2 year contract that ends June thirtieth of [2027]," Barnes said, adding that the arrangement allows the state to call regional teams to respond alongside level 1 teams in cities such as Appleton, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Eau Claire.

The contract includes quarterly state subsidies for type 3 teams. "Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield Fire Department will receive approximately $16,625.27 annually," Barnes said, and explained the funds are used for personnel recertification, training equipment and replacement meters. He also said that while deployed by the state, team members become state employees for wage and workers' compensation purposes and that the state provides FEMA reimbursements for mileage, vehicle use and equipment replacement.

Committee members confirmed the police and fire commission had already approved the contract and then moved to recommend council approval. A motion to approve was made and seconded and, after an affirmative voice vote, the committee voted to forward the agreement to the city council for final approval.

The committee’s recommendation will allow Marshfield to remain an active regional HAZMAT resource and maintain eligibility for state training grants administered through the Wisconsin eGrants portal.

Copies of the contract and the city’s request to forward it to the council were presented at the meeting; the council is scheduled to consider the recommendation next week.