In a special meeting Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Breezy Point City Council voted unanimously to further explore a joint powers agreement with the city of Pequot Lakes for fire services.
“This has been a process that's taken a while but I think we've arrived at a point now where we've been able to give the council information to help move us in the direction that we feel that we best need to go in,” Mayor Todd Roggenkamp said.
The council chose that option over two others: essentially using a modified version of the city’s current contract with Pequot Lakes or entering a new agreement with the city of Nisswa for fire services.
“Basically, what (the agreement) would mean is that Pequot and Breezy Point would enter into an agreement where they would oversee the fire department jointly, and have joint ownership of it,” Roggenkamp said. “Then the other organizations that are currently under contract would be contracted underneath that joint powers agreement, and any other future contractual agreements that would be reached with other entities in the area.”
The agreement dictates that both cities will have space dedicated for fire department equipment, along with training and exercise space. Financial commitments are determined by use and property values.
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The Pequot Lakes City Council also unanimously approved the contract at its Tuesday, March 1, meeting - pending final vetting by the city's legal team - as both cities have agreed on all major details.
City administrator
The Breezy Point City Council also agreed on four finalists for the city administrator/clerk position, although details of the four candidates remain anonymous.
Council members narrowed their list of 10 candidates by each giving their thoughts on the best three or four candidates - although council member Gary Bakken selected two and said the rest did not qualify for the position.
Finalists were to be interviewed Tuesday, March 1.
Council member Michael Moroni was not in attendance Feb. 22.
Dan Determan, sports writer/staff writer, may be reached at 218-855-5879 or dan.determan@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Dan.
