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Board approves Deer Grove EMS IGA changes after debate over legal access
Summary
Trustees approved amendments to the Deer Grove EMS intergovernmental agreement adding coordination steps before commission members request the district attorney; some village trustees said the change would limit municipal access to legal counsel, but the resolution carried after discussion and minor modifications.
The Cottage Grove Village Board approved Resolution 2026-12-0521 on June 1, adopting edits to the Deer Grove EMS intergovernmental agreement that the EMS commission requested and the village legal team revised.
The proposed amendments clarify procedures for commission members to route certain legal or sensitive matters through the commission chair or chief before submitting requests to the EMS attorney. Supporters said the changes increase transparency and ensure the commission remains the primary body for district-level legal coordination; opponents said the language could limit a municipality’s ability to seek prompt legal counsel on issues that affect its interests.
"My preference would be that we handle it like we handle our board and how our board can reach out to our village attorneys at any point," a village trustee said during the meeting, arguing the village should retain direct access when needed. Another trustee noted the commission previously bargained for similar language and suggested lowering hourly thresholds rather than cutting off access.
After extended discussion, the board moved to adopt the commission’s edits together with village-counsel additions and an added sentence requiring that requests be distributed to all commission members concurrently. The motion carried; several trustees voted no, citing concern over perceived shifts in authority and the expense or allocation of legal hours.
Next steps: staff will forward the board’s summary and the final redline to the EMS commission and include a clarifying memo in the packet for the other municipal partners as requested during the meeting.
