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Delafield says Lake Country Fire & Rescue agreement is near final amid debate over withdrawal penalty
Summary
City Administrator Tom told the Delafield council the intermunicipal agreement for Lake Country Fire & Rescue is in final legal review after municipal leaders resolved most items; a proposed 25% withdrawal penalty that would have applied to members was raised and discussed and then informally withdrawn, clearing the way for imminent approval.
City Administrator Tom updated the Delafield Common Council on March 16 that the intermunicipal agreement among seven municipalities for Lake Country Fire & Rescue (LCFR) is largely settled and is in final legal review.
Tom said administrators and elected officials have worked point‑by‑point through outstanding items. One late issue raised by a municipal representative proposed a 25% annual contribution penalty for any municipality that chose to withdraw from LCFR; Tom said that penalty would have equated to roughly a half‑million dollars for Delafield under current contributions. That proposed penalty dominated discussion at a recent administrators’ meeting but was later withdrawn informally after a follow‑up meeting, Tom said.
Tom told the council attorneys for the municipalities will meet March 23 to finalize redlines; if legal review completes as expected, the agreement could be before municipal councils for approval within weeks. Tom also described a staggered budget/timing approach: the fire budget will be approved separately in October under a dedicated fire fee structure rather than the general tax levy.
Councilors asked about remaining sticking points from earlier drafts; Tom said administrators resolved most operational and deadline issues and that the redline document is with municipal attorneys. The council expressed optimism but said they want time to review the final document before voting.
