Delafield council accepts one-year fix to LCFR agreement while partners debate withdrawal terms
Loading...
Summary
Councilors discussed a proposed one-year amendment to the Lake Country Fire & Rescue intermunicipal agreement to secure staffing and an interim cost-sharing formula after partner negotiations stalled over proposed changes to withdrawal/opt-out timelines; staff expect a final draft at the next meeting.
Delafield — The Delafield Common Council on Nov. 3 discussed an interim, one-year amendment to the Lake Country Fire & Rescue (LCFR) intermunicipal agreement to address 2026 staffing and cost-sharing while partners continue negotiating a permanent contract.
Mayor Iger reviewed background from a municipal partner meeting Oct. 28 and said consensus emerged to adopt a one-year amendment for the 2026 budget because partners could not resolve a contested change to the withdrawal (opt-out) period. The city has maintained the status quo language allowing any municipality to leave as early as Jan. 1, 2028; other partner municipalities proposed multi-year lock-ins (three to four years), which stalled agreement on a permanent amendment.
“The idea of having an opt out for two years is not saying that the city of Delafield is eager to have one foot out the door,” Mayor Iger said. He said the interim amendment would allow Delafield to secure three new full-time paramedic firefighters and implement a first-year cost-sharing formula that shifts some burden to partner municipalities.
Tom Hafner, the city administrator, said, “We got the first draft of the amendment today. So we will have a final draft, at the next council meeting for approval.” Hafner and council members said the one-year amendment will be circulated to councilors well before the next meeting for review.
Council members described tense moments at the partner meeting over the proposed change to withdrawal terms but said adopting the short-term amendment will keep staffing intact and preserve operational stability while negotiations continue. No final council vote on the permanent contract occurred at the Nov. 3 meeting; staff said they expect to return with a final one-page interim amendment for council action at the next meeting.
The discussion emphasized preserving flexibility in the long-term contract language and ensuring sufficient firefighter staffing for 2026; councilors asked for continued updates as partner discussions proceed.
