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Council authorizes conditional rehire of firefighter, restoring department staffing
Summary
The Mendota Heights City Council unanimously authorized the conditional rehire of firefighter Michael Winters, a move councilors said will return the fire department to full staffing. The vote followed a brief discussion during a pulled consent item.
The Mendota Heights City Council on March 3 unanimously authorized the conditional rehire of Michael Winters as a Mendota Heights firefighter, a move councilors said will return the department to full staffing.
Councilor Paper moved to authorize Winters’ conditional rehire; Councilor Maczko seconded the motion, which passed on a 5–0 vote. Councilor Paper welcomed Winters back and said the rehiring will make the department fully staffed. Councilor Lorberbaum contrasted Mendota Heights’ volunteer fire model favorably with other cities that have moved away from volunteer departments.
The rehire was handled as a pulled consent item. Multiple other consent items — including approval of minutes, a 2026–2027 labor contract with the Minnesota Public Employees Association, personnel hires, acceptance of a police equipment donation and other routine administrative matters — were approved under the broader consent agenda earlier in the meeting.
The council adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
