$35,000 extra
March 18th, 2008 by 
Alica
On Monday night, the city council agreed to give the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department $35,000 more than the $53,000 the city had originally budgeted for the department this year. So that’s a total of $88,000.
Do you think that is a good idea, or do you think the city should have put off the additional funds until the next budget cycle?
The fire department says it needs the money to build up a truck fund so fire trucks can be replaced before they get too old.
Fire chief Greg Lacey told the city the fire department will ask for increasing amounts from the city each year.
Do you think renegotiating its contract with the city is a better way for the fire department to raise money than to seek a fire tax district? Why or why not?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
March 19th, 2008 at 12:10 am
We as a community need to support the BVFD - just as they support us with their services.
I do believe the BVFD needs to come up with a concrete long and short term plan and “share” it with the community though. When the FD approaches the city asking for $$$$, it would be helpful to know exactly how much they need and how it will be spent. Just approaching the city with a “we need money” seems unprofessional.
I realize this $$$$ is going specifically for a certain truck. That is great. I am glad the city is trying to help.
I did notice that the BVFD said they are going out on more calls. Are these “fire” calls, “ambulance” calls (which they no longer are going to), or exactly what? It would be VERY helpful if the calls were listed in the newspaper (and website) just as the police calls are. We as a community could really see just how much the BVFD really does for us!
Thanks BVFD!
March 19th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Oh…. but they are still going on medical calls. We are duplicating services now with the FD, PD, and Medstar going out.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:32 am
They are not duplicating services. Brandon Fire responds to Medical calls to assist Med-Star. Brandon Police respond to medical calls to reassure that the scene is safe for medical and fire personal to approach. All three dept work well together to make sure everyone is safe!
Thanks BVFD, looking forward to the sping dance!!
March 19th, 2008 at 7:46 am
My mistake on the BVFD going on medical calls. I thought I had read somewhere they were no longer responding to them. It still would be helpful to see the calls responded to printed in the newspaper - and further broken down into Fire, medical, other…..
March 19th, 2008 at 7:50 am
While I support the FD, it appears that the tax district idea wasn’t well planned. $35K is a long way from the $405K they thought they had to have. I agree with #1. The FD needs to be more transparent with their plans if they want more financial support.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:36 am
If we now have a paramedic and EMT with Medstar on calls, why do we want the FD to assist? Unless there is a need for more hands in a larger scale medical call we are duplicating services.
In small town volunteer FD’s where they have a separate ambulance service, the FD is only called out on medical calls for extrication, fuel spill clean up or when specifically asked for. For the average medical call there is no need for a paramedic and 4-6 EMT’s to show up.
This is absolutely not saying our FD isn’t fabulous and necessary….it’s saying that when we voted to hire an ambulance service that is located within the city limits (which I voted against) we negated the need for the FD to respond to every medical call. With fuel prices as they are, we are wasting money.
Think about it…we are now paying for EMS equipment and a vehicle for the FD when we have a private ambulance service.
And no, I don’t think the tax district was very well thought out. In a perfect world we would have a paid fire chief a paid paramedic and a city owned FD and ambulance service.(Volunteers would make up the balance. We’re giving them money anyway.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:12 am
You do have to remember that BVFD does respond to calls outside of Med-Stars district. So they do need EMS supplies and an EMS truck. Med-Star only brings 2 personal to a call and on most calls it is nice to have extra personal there. For getting supplies, assisting in lifting, getting information from by-standers, etc…
I do agree with turning the FD into the Medical service with a paid chief and medic!!
Does anyone know how many calls Med-Star has been on since they took over?
March 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Observations-
In rural Minnehaha County (outside of the Sioux Falls City Limits), a fire department is dispatched to all medical calls regardless of whether there is an ambulance service in town or not. These protocols are set with Metro Communications in Sioux Falls. This is, however, not true for all counties in South Dakota. So if there is a sick person in Dell Rapids, the Dell Rapids Community Ambulance and the Dell Rapids Fire Department will be dispatched. Same goes for the other towns in the county with ambulances (Humboldt, Garretson & Brandon).
March 19th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Long time,
We don’t HAVE to dispatch medical calls in the city limits like that. We can set our own protocols (we did that when we hired Medstar)
Not ALL are run like that. Some are run separate. Luverne and Canton for example.
March 19th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Depending on the type of medical call, most calls need more than 2 people, especially if you are talking about chest pains. Do you realize that BVFD personal ride along to the hospital to help while enroute? No, this is not the case with every call, but very common.
Every call the fire dept is called out on, the Rescue responds. They are there for the patient and the fire dept personnel.
I belive the fire dept did a good job showing where their money has been spent in the last 10 years and the percentage of increase of $ received from the county, touwnship and the city. They were not asking for $ for just one truck. They have done the research and presented a long term budget.
March 19th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I believe I am a fairly well informed citizen but I haven’t seen much on the long term or short term budget of the BVFD. Just a bit in one article in the newspaper. Could you direct me where I can access this info.? Is there a website? Thanks!
March 19th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Just me,
Most calls do not require more than 2 people, and I know this for a fact. A qualified EMS team needs two people for MOST calls. It’s the standard.
If Med star is taking FD staff with them on most calls, who’s left for a 2nd or 3rd call? There’s a limited number of FD people who work in Brandon and are available.
If Medstar needs FD personnel on calls then we have a really big problem with our ambulance service. Every ambulance in the country runs with teams of two on MOST calls.
WHERE did the FD show where their money is being spent? Was is published somewhere?? Were their books open to the public? I agree with justwondering.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
To my knowledge, the figures have not been published. However, the fire department had fliers with detailed information available at their open house.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Sure would be nice if they would “share” this info beyond their doors. Most people didn’t go to their open house. That is probably the reason their attmepts for the tax districts didn’t got to far.
As it has been said before, we are a lazy bunch. We pretty much want the info dropped in our laps or at least on a website somewhere. EASY access!
March 19th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
The fire dept had the information for the city council Monday night.
And no, it is not unusual for fire dept personal to ride along with a patient. This was also the practice for certain calls with Rural Metro. You have one as the driver and some calls you need 2 people in back working on the patient.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Everywhere I’ve lived the fire department went to medical calls in case more muscle was needed. Getting a 300 lb person down a spiral staircase takes more than two people. Getting a person off the roof will take more than two people - and a good ladder. Picking a large object off a person can require more than two people (think cars, trees, fridges, etc). The prudent person goes prepared for the worst and hopes for the best.
I’m not sure about the $35,000. I can see it when the contract is due to be renewed and it is part of the talks. I think this request is to punish the council for making them get the signatures. I think the relationship between the FD and the city will be going downhill until the city is forced to get there own FD. I think that will be a lose, lose situation. Just my opinion.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Do you know that over the past 10 years the county has stepped up their support/funding to the fire dept 209% and in the same timeframe the city growth in payments was 39%.
Who is at fault is not what is important in the fire dept funding in the past. The fire dept is now willing to work with the city and give monthly updates by coming to council meetings. If you want to know the facts and figures that the fire dept gave at the council meeting…stop by city hall or visit the fire dept and ask to see what they presented. Or you could of watched it online last night on the local channel.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
How great was that last night!! Thank you Brandon Council for airing your meetings, I was against the BVFD wanting money, but after listening to Mr. Lacey last night I now have a clear understanding of where they are coming from and support them 100%