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Montrose council approves fire-department pay increases, annual report and new equipment purchases
Summary
Council approved changes to the fire department’s pay policy, accepted the 2025 annual report for publication and authorized purchases including new helmets and pagers after staff outlined calls, equipment needs and safety standards.
The Montrose City Council on April 13 approved several actions to update fire-department pay and replace aging equipment.
Fire department representative (S9) presented the 2025 annual report and said the department had 23 active or reserve firefighters with a combined 235 years of experience and recorded 316 calls for the year; property loss for 2025 was $328,500 following one structure fire. The council voted 5-0 to approve the annual report for publication and sharing with partners.
S9 asked the council to amend policy 103 to raise training pay from $15 to $20 per training event and to increase call pay from $12.50 per call to $20. The council debated the personnel pay changes and recorded two abstentions; that resolution (2026-10) passed 3-2. S9 said the increases were intended to better compensate training time and on-call responses.
The council also approved equipment purchases recommended by the department: a $14,340 purchase of 30 new helmets from McQueen Equipment plus $1,600 for new helmet fronts (resolution 2026-17), and acceptance of a $2,500 Minnesota DNR matching grant to help buy new pagers (resolution 2026-18) followed by authorization to purchase 10 pagers for $6,185.23 (resolution 2026-19). S9 reminded the council the department follows NFPA guidance and that helmets have a 10-year replacement schedule.
Council members said the purchases were needed to keep personnel safe and to bring department equipment into compliance. The equipment and grant items were approved unanimously.
