Dan Dietz, Dell Rapids fire chief, told the council the department’s contract is prepared and ready for approval at the next meeting; there is no rate change from 2024, and staff believes the department can continue serving the city in the interim.

Dietz reported the department responded to 336 calls last year; 256 of those calls occurred within the city limits, a share the chief described as roughly three-quarters of the department’s work. He said about 43% of incidents were priority 1 or 2 (more emergent calls). The department has 21 members and two applicants scheduled for next Monday’s vote; Dietz noted full operational status for new volunteers requires completion of Firefighter I and II training (a roughly 120-hour classroom plus hands-on course) and can take a year or longer depending on timing.

Dietz described investments and rising costs: recent replacement of portable radios and reprogramming of truck radios, a transition to an encrypted radio system to prevent scanner listening, ongoing rotation for turnout gear (a set costs $5,000 to $11,500), and a recently purchased water tender (a truck that carries water) that cost about $350,000. He said replacing a frontline engine could cost roughly $425,000 for a similar 2020 model or nearly $700,000 if built today.

On staffing, Dietz said the department launched a junior firefighter program to recruit younger members and noted the long training timeline required before a volunteer can respond as a full crew member.

Council members thanked the chief for the update and expressed appreciation for department service.