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Police and fire chiefs report staffing gains, code changes and equipment needs
Summary
Police and fire chiefs told council they have added officers and inspectors, outlined higher call volumes and investigations being routed to county agencies, described a police office remodel, and flagged the need to replace an out-of-service vehicle (estimated $59,000) while discussing fire-code updates that may affect residential uses.
Police and fire department leaders updated council on staffing, operations and equipment needs during the meeting.
Police: The police chief reported rising calls for service and said some investigations have been referred to county agencies because the departments manpower is limited. The chief said the department plans a remodel of the police office to improve storage and functionality, and requested approval to send two officers to the police memorial in May. The department also announced recent hires: Officer Dian Thomas has been assigned to lead several investigations and Officer Kelly has been released from supervision and is serving on his own.
Fire and service departments: The fire chief read a letter praising EMT crews for saving a local resident from a major heart event and summarized attendance at a November 2025 fire-code update. The chief noted the new code may, in limited cases, apply to residential properties and encouraged council to consider whether to ask the state fire marshal about coverage for uses such as wedding barns and short-term rentals.
Fleet and equipment: The fire chief proposed replacing an out-of-service Explorer with a 2025 Ram 2500 crew cab (approx. $59,000 plus roughly $4,000 to wrap and additional console costs). The chief said the vehicle would support inspections, haul a UTV on a trailer and provide a dependable crew transport option. Several council members expressed concern about the trucks cost given other unresolved equipment that has been out of service for more than a year.
Why it matters: staffing and equipment affect the villages emergency response capacity and public-safety readiness. The chiefs framed investments as necessary for day-to-day response and for meeting new code and inspection demands.
Next steps: chiefs will pursue staffing and training plans, follow up on vehicle procurement options in line with the councils budget, and return with specific procurement or budget requests if the council wishes to proceed.
