Harris council approves Fire Department SOP changes, equipment buys and donation

The Harris City Council on April 14 approved changes to the Fire Department's Standard Operating Procedures, authorized several equipment purchases and accepted a donated forcible-entry training door.

Fire Chief Drew Chapeau presented a year-to-date operations summary and asked the Council to adopt three SOP amendments. The Council approved setting a 60% annual training attendance requirement for firefighters who work full-time with another department, keeping a 25% call-percentage benchmark, and capping department membership at 25 people. Councilmember Al Siedow made the motion to adopt the amendments and the Council carried it.

The Council approved a $4,443 estimate from Amador Lock & Door Service to replace a door, frame and hardware at the fire station; the vote carried four to one, with Councilmember Craig Moline opposed. Fire Department representative Josh Rouse reported the department sold an asset (the “J5”) for $1,000 and the Council approved using those proceeds to buy a floor gas reader ($950) and a standup charger ($190).

Chief 3 Tim Morin said the department contracted with Fire Inc. to provide a 1403 Fire Instructor Class at a total cost of $2,800; the class will be open to other departments at $300 per person. The Council approved the $2,800 expenditure. Morin also asked the Council to approve a gambling license for a ten‑gun raffle at Rib Fest and to waive fees; Council approved the license and the fee waiver.

Morin requested a policy allowing the City to reimburse team-building and award-event costs and listed two prior expenses that would be eligible for reimbursement. City Treasurer Sue Riesing said an auditor had advised the listed expenses did not meet the level of public purpose; Mayor Randy Carlson said this type of policy is a Council decision. Councilmembers asked for a formal interpretation of the relevant state statute; Al Siedow moved to table the reimbursement-policy decision and the motion carried.

The Council accepted a donation valued at $5,000 from Northern Custom Ironworks—a forcible-entry training door—via Resolution 2025‑03. Chief 2 Gabi Streater reported staffing and safety items, including recruiting progress, recognition of anniversary milestones, wildland-PPE shortfalls and two grant efforts (a $5,000 grant application to replace water flotation suits and purchase a rescue boat and life‑safety rope; and a DNR grant that is a 50% match of $2,500 and is pending). Streater also said the department will need new radios in the coming years at an estimated cost of about $300,000.

Council approved adding a new event-pay fee—$35 per person per event—so entities that request trained firefighters or EMS crews on standby will pay the City; the City will include that pay in crew payroll. Council discussed issuing department phones and tablets for state reporting and safety apps and asked staff to research options and service coverage before proceeding.

The Council directed staff to research statutory limits and funding options where needed. Several motions in this agenda package were formal votes; the Council tabled the reimbursement‑policy question for later action.

Next steps: staff were directed to pursue clarifications on reimbursement authority and funding options for equipment and training programs. No further action was taken on the proposed devices pending additional research.