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Committee backs Tess Corners volunteer fire agreement with added transparency requests
Summary
The finance committee recommended a fire protection agreement with Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department and adopted amendments asking the department to provide five years of donation totals, an itemized list of donations over $5,000, and to align a capital expenditure threshold with the city's; members debated open‑records implications for a private volunteer department.
The Muskego City Finance Committee voted Dec. 16 to recommend a fire protection agreement with the Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department to the common council, and the committee adopted amendments aimed at increasing transparency.
During discussion an alderperson moved to change a capital‑expenditure threshold in the agreement "to match the city" — described in the meeting as lowering the threshold from $500,000 to $50,000 — and to require the fire department to provide a five‑year total of donations and a separate list of any donations over $5,000. The motion also sought to give the council access to financial statements so members could better "safeguard the taxpayers," a committee member said.
Committee members debated whether a private volunteer fire department is subject to Wisconsin open records law; staff said the department’s agreement with the city includes provisions that require compliance with open‑records requests where applicable. The committee ultimately approved the agreement as amended and recommended it to the common council; the chair said it would appear on the consent agenda but could be pulled for separate consideration.
The recommended amendments aim to give council members greater visibility into donations and capital commitments from the volunteer fire organization before council takes final action.
