Fire chief seeks $30,000 strategic plan as city weighs public-safety costs

The commission considered two public-safety items: a consultant-led strategic plan request from the fire department and an updated contract estimate from the county sheriff.

The fire chief said a department strategic plan would produce a structured five-year roadmap for staffing, training, capital improvements and ISO rating goals. "It's going to help us provide transparency and accountability and kind of set that five‑year roadmap of where we need to go," the chief said. Staff reported three preliminary quotes for the study clustered around $24,000–$26,000 and recommended a $30,000 line in the budget to allow competitive procurement.

Separately, staff reported receiving an updated cost estimate from the Penelis County Sheriff of a 6.1% increase in contract costs, which the staff presenter said would bring the city’s contract cost to approximately $1.2 million. The presenter characterized the sheriff contract as an external, largely nonnegotiable budget item that significantly drives public-safety spending.

Commissioners discussed components of the fire proposal, including leadership development, ISO accreditation goals and public engagement during plan development. Staff said the plan would include citizen, employee and business participation and that competitive proposals would be solicited before any contract award.

No final appropriation vote was recorded in the meeting; staff said they would circulate proposals and scope documents for review and bring back procurement recommendations for commission action.