Ad hoc committee approves bylaw amendment adding attachment language, forwards revisions to member municipalities for ratification

The ad hoc committee overseeing River Area Fire District budgetary matters voted to approve a revision to the district bylaws that adds attachment language and to forward the revised bylaws to the three member municipalities for ratification.

A Committee member who presented the draft told the meeting the document is the product of collaborative work with the town attorney and outside counsel and includes two joining options: a full proportional‑share assessment with an extended payment period, and a discounted 20% buy‑in (with limited vesting) or a longer 10‑year payment option intended to lower upfront cost and encourage municipalities to join. "We're gonna discount you to 20%," the Committee member said when summarizing the partial buy‑in option.

The presenter said attachment language was drafted early by outside counsel and later revised with input from local attorneys and ad hoc members; he and another reviewer said they had looked over the final text and were "fine with that." The Chair explained the next steps if the committee approved the bylaws: each of the three member municipalities must consider and ratify the bylaw amendment at their respective board or city council meetings. Committee members asked that municipal approvals occur before April; the transcript records "April" as the target month but does not specify exact municipal ratification dates.

The Committee member moved to accept the revised bylaws and to forward them to the three municipalities for ratification. The motion—to adopt the bylaw amendment to include attachment language and forward it for ratification—was seconded and approved by roll call. The roll‑call vote recorded seven yes votes: Jonathan; Vanderblink; Downs; Krieger; Jenkert; Iverson; and Sorensen. The Chair said that once all three municipal boards have ratified and signed off, checks to the district could be released.

The meeting closed after the committee solicited agenda items for the next meeting (April 7); a credit‑card swiper for payment processing was noted as an agenda item. The committee adjourned after a motion to adjourn carried on voice vote.

Next steps: the revised bylaws will be circulated to the three member municipalities for ratification; the committee requested approvals before April, though no firm ratification dates were specified.