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Sturgis council directs staff to oppose proposed OSHA emergency-response standard
Summary
After firefighters and staff warned that proposed federal OSHA changes would place heavy training and equipment costs on volunteer departments, the Sturgis Common Council voted to direct staff to prepare a letter opposing the proposed standard.
Sturgis city staff and fire-department representatives told the Common Council Monday that proposed changes to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency-response standards could impose substantial training, equipment and staffing costs on volunteer fire departments.
City legal staff and a fire representative said the proposed federal regulations are in the public-comment phase and that the new requirements "would significantly increase the kind of training and various other requirements" placed on volunteer departments and could create "significant funding" burdens. On the council—s motion, members directed staff to draft and forward a letter opposing the proposed OSHA emergency-response standard; the motion passed on voice vote.
Council members cited concerns about increased municipal and municipal-insurance costs and the potential financial strain on volunteer departments across Mead County and South Dakota. Staff said they would prepare a formal letter articulating the city—s concerns and forward it to the appropriate federal comment docket before the public-comment deadline.
