BrandonInfo.com

According to members of the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department, their operating budget doesn’t allow them to squirrel away money for big purchases such as fire trucks. They would like more income so they can start a capital improvements fund. Then, when they need to make a big purchase, they have money stored away to help pay for it.

They’d like to get that money by creating a tax district.

At the last council meeting, one of the councilors suggested an alternative to get extra money: become a department of the city.

Ok, that’s two options for increasing the fire department budget. Here are some other ones, in no particular order and with no particular regard for practicality. I’m just brainstorming here, folks.

The department could have more fundraisers.

The department could make friends with someone who is really rich and really generous.

The department could renegotiate their contracts with the city, county and township, effectively raising their rates for services rendered.

The department could continue as a volunteer department but with a city employee fire chief. Several towns already do this, such as Vermillion and Madison.

The department could merge with other nearby departments such as Split Rock or Valley Springs fire departments.

The department could start billing people who they help. The fire department puts out your house fire, you get a bill.

The department could continue with the budget they have now but hold a big fundraising campaign whenever they need money for a special purchase.

Ok, I’m tapped out of ideas at the moment. Do you have any other ideas?

Or would you like to discuss the pros and cons of any of the ideas above?

What options do you think are the most practical? Which would be good long-term solutions? Which would be feasible in a town of 10,000 population? 15,000 population?

Remember, there is an open house at the Fire Hall on Friday evening. You can learn more there. And the topic will be on the City Council’s agenda Monday evening. You can learn more there too.

Today, I am blogging from the South Dakota Legislature. I with a group of Brandon people who are in Pierre to meet and greet legislators.

We’re leaving Brandon at 6 a.m. and I’ll start blogging as soon as we arrive at the capital and I can get set up.

I’ll be blogging throughout the day. You’re welcome to add your comments and questions too. I’ll try to reply to your questions to the best of my ability.

One winter some years ago, my brother got stranded on the side of the road during a snow storm. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get out until the snow stopped, but he wasn’t worried as he had his extreme-weather sleeping bag with him. So he crawled into it and hunkered down for the duration. If he hadn’t had that gear, though, we might have ended up with a Mike-sickle.

What emergency gear do you carry in your vehicle during the winter months? Extra socks? Candy bars? A quilt, blanket or sleeping bag? Candles?

Do you have one of those winter kits that contains flares, a shovel and such? Or do you put together your own kit?

If you do carry emergency gear, have you ever had to use it? What stories do you have to tell?

Have you already owned your dream car, or is it still just part of your dreams?

Every car I’ve owned has been a used car, usually a junker, that was the best I could afford at the time. As such, I haven’t had the luxury of being too picky.

When I turned 50, I figured that for once in my life, I would have a vehicle that was my own choice. I’d seen true fire painting on one of those car shows on television, and I knew that’s what I wanted on my dream car. But what make and model?

Being fond of a little quirkiness, I tried to think what kind of car would be the funniest to be painted with fire. It didn’t take long to decide on a Volkswagon Beetle.

It’s my mid-life crisis car. We call it “Hot Flash.”

Do you have a vintage car in your garage that you hope to someday restore? Did you drive the best muscle car in your high school class? Is your SUV your pride and joy? Are you saving up for that street rod? What’s your dream car?

Brandon City Hall has a long-term water plan that calls for a new water treatment plant to be built on the east side of town around 2011, depending on the rate of city growth.

Right now, nearly all the water used in Brandon is treated at the current plant in Aspen Park. But it’s near capacity. In fact, during peak use in the summer, residents get a mixture of treated water and untreated water from a pump located behind the old First National Bank building on Splitrock Boulevard.

What do you think of the quality of Brandon’s water? Do you further filter the water that comes out of your tap before you drink it? Do you drink bottled water?

A group of Brandon people are taking a bus to Pierre Wednesday, Jan. 30, to observe the Legislature in session. The trip is sponsored by the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. I will be among those going, and I will be live blogging that day.

Are there any topics you want me to watch for or mention on the blog that day? Any questions you want me to make sure to ask? Anything at all you want me to comment on that day? Post on the blog or e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com.

There still may be spots available on the bus, if you wish to join us. Call the Chamber at 582-7400 to learn more. I know we’ll be leaving at 6 a.m. and returning home about 9 a.m. that day.

The Brandon fire department approached the city about setting up a fire district and raising additional funds to support the department. The city suggested that the fire fighters instead become a city department. What would be the better approach or do you think things should stay as they are?

What elective classes would you like to see Brandon Valley offer? The high school offers electives such as astronomy, anatomy and tragedies in history. Middle school students have been able to choose skiing as an exploratory class for a couple of decades.

Does the school offer the kinds of electives that cater to your child’s personal interests? What elective classes have your children enjoyed the most?

Candidates for Brandon City Council can file their petitions at City Hall from Jan. 25 through Feb. 29. A petition needs 50 signatures for the candidate to get on the ballot. Seats for four-year terms will be open in Ward I, now held by John Saarloos, and Ward III, now held by Steve Rubin.

Do you think the incumbents should run for re-election? Why or why not?

If not, who do you think should run against them?

Rubin is just completing his first term. He has been elected by the people once already and has experience with the issues. However, there are some areas where he has the perception of having a conflict of interest.

Saarloos is eager to serve and is a self-proclaimed common man. However, he wasn’t elected by the people, having been appointed to the seat after a previous councilor resigned.

What are other advantages and disadvantages of the incumbents?

Earlier this week, a dozen Brandon Valley seniors graduated a semester earlier than the rest of their class. Some plan to spend extra time working to save up money for college this fall. Others are starting college early. Others may have other plans.

Early graduation at Brandon Valley is allowed for students who complete the required 22 course credits early. They must tell administration of their intentions by the beginning of their junior year.

What do you think about early graduation? My husband and daughter were both only 17 when they graduated at the regular time. Finishing high school a semester early would have had them graduating even younger. Some kids just aren’t ready emotionally to take on the responsibility of being out in the “real world” so young.

On the other hand, my birthday fell so I was one of the oldest in my graduating class. If I’d graduated a semester early, I still would have been 18. I already was accepted to my college of choice, and I also had wedding plans by then. My last semester of high school felt like I was just marking time.

What are your thoughts. Do you know anyone who graduated early? How did that affect the next few years of their lives? Did they regret their choice or celebrate it?

Last week, the weather was practically balmy. With the days getting longer, some hoped for a mild winter.

Then a cold front rolled in. Temperatures are supposed to get colder throughout the week, hitting the below zero mark by Friday, if not sooner.

Makes a person want to crawl under a quilt until March, doesn’t it?

How much do you change your schedule, if any, when it gets this cold? Do you stay home from social activities? Do you plug in your car’s block heater? With gas prices as high as they are, do you let your car idle until it warms up before you roll?

What is it that makes us live in such a climate, anyway?

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

If left to my own devices, I think I would end up staying up all night and sleeping all day. My grandma wakes up early each morning without the benefit of an alarm clock, and she retires while the prime time shows are still on television.

People have told me that if I get up early on a regular basis, I’ll get used to it. That doesn’t seem to be the case, though. I’ve gone through long periods where I awoke early in the morning. It just seems to make me more tired during the day.

How about you? Are you up at the crack of dawn, or is that when you finally settle in to get some shuteye? Are you lucky enough to be able to have a schedule that conforms to your inner clock? If not, how do you deal with having to get up before you’re ready, or to stay up a lot later than you want?

What is your opinion, in general, about privacy fences?

A homeowner might like them if their back yard faces a busy street, like South Sioux Boulevard. A tall wooden fence might allow the family to enjoy their back yard without having to look at cars. The fence may also absorb some of the traffic noise.

A row of tall, wooden fences might prevent neighbors from getting to know each other, though.

And for the motorist, a row of tall privacy fences can look pretty boring.

What are your thoughts?

When I was a kid, we had very strict bedtimes. I remember having to go to bed right in the middle of the Red Skelton show each week. Sometimes it was right in the middle of a Freddy the Freeloader sketch. I never did see how those ended.

Even in high school, I had to go to bed right after Johnny Carson’s monologue.

My brother always had the same bedtime as me, even though he was a year younger. I thought that was unfair.
Do kids have a strict bedtime at your house? What time is it? How do you determine it? Do all your kids have to go to bed at the same time, or do the older ones get to stay up longer?

Do you think semi trucks should be allowed to drive on Redwood Boulevard? City Council members have banned big trucks on all Brandon roads, but they haven’t decided yet if they will ban trucks on Redwood or not.

On the one hand, the city shouldn’t provide a way for trucks to avoid the scales on the interstate. But on the other hand, Brandon might get a reputation for being unfriendly if trucks are banned everywhere.

Even with a ban, trucks making pick ups or deliveries within the city limits still would be able to do so.

What are your thoughts?

The Argus Leader recently printed a story about high school bowling (”Teamwork sparks surge in bowling”, Jan. 6). The South Dakota High School Bowling Association has seven teams, and Brandon Valley is one of them. How do you think the team is doing this year?

What do you think about high school kids being able to earn a letter in bowling? How does it compare to other sports?

I remember taking bowling as one of my physical education credits in college. I always enjoyed bowling.

Do you bowl?

The 83rd session of the South Dakota Legislature will convene tomorrow. A story today on www.brandoninfo.com says school officials will be asking for more school funding for growing schools and for teachers’ salaries.

The governor has said he will not be asking for any new taxes this session. He calls the 2009 budget a “limited growth” budget, meaning any agency that asks for more money in the coming year needs to have a real good reason why they need it.

In his budget address, Gov. Rounds said, “I’m asking that we take $4.6 million out of our budget reserve to balance our budget for the 09 cycle.”

Do you think it’s a good idea to dip into the reserves?

What issues will you be watching, if any, in the upcoming legislative session?