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Otsego council authorizes recruitment for fire chief amid debate over cost and schedule
Summary
After a presentation on compressed training and equipment timelines, Otsego council authorized recruitment for a permanent fire chief and approved a large payment on the new fire station; the recruitment motion passed 3–1 after a council member voiced concern about lack of a comprehensive plan and cited a $13.38 million cost estimate for owning a municipal department.
The City of Otsego council on Jan. 26 authorized staff to post a job description and begin recruitment for a permanent fire chief and related captain positions after an extended presentation from the interim fire chief. The motion to authorize recruitment passed 3–1, with Council member Ray voting against the measure and urging the council to delay spending until it has a comprehensive plan for fire services.
Interim Fire Chief (name not stated) told the council that hiring must be accelerated because of training and equipment schedules: he recommended the city hire a fire chief by April, bring three full‑time captains on board by May and begin part‑time firefighter training in June so recruits would be ready by Jan. 1, 2027. He said firefighter certification training typically takes five months and first‑responder training an additional two months; custom turnout gear can take 60–90 days to receive. He also noted the department expects delivery of two new Pierce apparatus with factory training available within 30 days of delivery, scheduled for June.
Council members questioned the budget impacts of moving hiring forward. City staff responded that the budget did not account for the accelerated hiring timeline and that staff will prepare options for council consideration. "The budget did not account for the hiring timeline proposed this evening," staff said during the discussion.
Council member Ray opposed the recruitment motion, saying the city lacks a comprehensive plan and warning against additional spending. Ray stated that the total cost to operate an independent municipal fire department would be $13,380,553.71 (figure presented by Ray during discussion). "Failure to have a comprehensive plan in place before implementing can lead to costly failures," Ray said, and added that he would vote no.
The council also approved payment application No. 13 for the fire station project in the amount of $1,512,200.76 for work completed on the station; that motion was moved by Council member Corey, seconded by Michelle and recorded as passed. City staff said they will return in February with additional positions' job descriptions for council consideration and later seek authorization for full‑time firefighters.
The council's actions authorize recruitment and next administrative steps; they do not constitute final hiring or budget appropriation for the additional positions without further council approvals.
