Trimont council adopts Jr. firefighter guidelines and approves updated fire-relief bylaws

The Trimont City Council on Aug. 18 approved new operating guidelines for a Jr. firefighter program and adopted updated bylaws for the Trimont Fire Relief association following a year in which the relief association switched firefighter retirement to PERA.

Fire Department leaders and council members discussed that the relief association no longer maintains a separate special fund account and that the group will keep the relief name but operate as a 501(c)(3). Council Member Ronald Shade moved to approve the Jr. Fire Fighter Operating Guidelines — limiting participation to a maximum of five Jr. firefighters — and the council approved the guidelines and the revised bylaws by unanimous votes. Council also approved the city paying Olsen Rental for a chair rental and asked the department for monthly expense reports.

The votes formalize the department’s plan to add a small, limited junior program and acknowledge the relief association’s organizational changes; the council did not authorize new recurring city expenditures for the relief association at the meeting.