Otsego council approves multiple fire hires, equipment purchases amid ethics debate

The Otsego City Council on Monday approved multiple hires and purchases for the city’s recently created municipal fire department while several council members and a public commenter raised ethics concerns about a council member appearing on the department payroll.

Chief McCoy presented staffing options and recruitment results: roughly a dozen applicants competed for the captain position, and the department received about 99 applicants for part‑time cadet roles. The council approved hiring Aaron Endy as a full‑time captain (anticipated start around July 6 pending preemployment checks) and approved hiring Grant Carlson as a full‑time firefighter. The council also approved hiring 22 part‑time firefighter candidates at $16 per hour; Chief McCoy said training is scheduled to start July 13 and that operational calls are expected to begin Jan. 1.

Council approved several fire-station related disbursements and procurements: payment application no. 18 for $311,760.88 for work on the fire station, procurement of radios, equipment and programming from DSC Communications for $204,000.84, and purchase of SDVA equipment from Alex Air Apparatus for $245,661. Each of those items carried on recorded voice votes, typically 3 to 1 in favor during the meeting.

The hiring and procurement votes unfolded amid repeated ethics objections. Public commenter Gabe Davis had earlier named a council member on the applicant list and called it “highly impractical and unethical” for an elected official to apply for paid work from the same entity the council funds. Council member Ryan expanded on that concern in a lengthy address, saying the arrangement invited questions about public trust and the appearance of impropriety. He argued that even if the conduct met technical legal standards, officials should avoid situations that ‘‘look funny’’ to residents.

City attorney Dave responded that Minnesota law does not categorically bar mayors or council members from serving on a fire department and that whether a council member should recuse depends on whether a specific vote would personally benefit that member. Dave advised that recusal would be appropriate if a matter before the council could create a personal benefit.

Mayor and other council members defended the hiring votes by noting the need for personnel and that compensation for part‑time on‑call service is modest. Several council motions to hire and to authorize purchases were made, seconded and approved as recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council concluded the public safety section after approving the hiring and procurement items; Chief McCoy said the department’s ladder truck and engine had arrived in Apple Valley and staff would soon outfit apparatus and begin training the new hires.