CAMDENTON, Mo. — Mid County Fire Protection District Chief Scott Frandsen says the merger between his fire district and Camdenton's is working.
Camdenton Mayor John McNabb asked Chief Frandsen to update the BOA about the merger, at Tuesday's Board of Aldermen meeting.
Frandsen revealed personnel from both Camdenton’s former fire department and MCFPD are “working well together.” He added his belief that hindsight will prove the City made the “right decision for all citizens.” Already MCFPD is able to provide shorter response times, and Frandsen sees only more positive results as the City and County now have a “robust system in place.”
Chief Frandsen noted all pagers have been reprogrammed. Furthermore, siren testing for both the county and the fire station has taken place with citizens hearing sirens sound twice--one time for each entity.
Also at the meeting, city staff brought forward some suggestions for changes to the city code, precipitated by the fire department merger. MCFPD Fire Chief Frandsen was present for the discussion on those changes in Bill 2652-16.
Alderman Eden shared his reservations about changing a “whole bunch of stuff if it’s not really necessary.” Eden believes it wise not to rewrite now if, in a few years, the City does not continue to contract for services with MCFPD or another entity and would thus find it necessary to revise City code again.
Eden furthermore expressed his desire to protect the contracted Fire Chief’s ability to enforce City code and ordinances. Eden believes the Fire Chief chosen by MCFPD should be formally sanctioned by the BOA in order to facilitate his or her enforcement abilities.
Phil Morgan, the City’s attorney, explained the City’s first notion was to remove all references to a Fire Chief as the City no longer has a need for one. This idea was abandoned in favor of the following language for Section 205.010 Fire Department Established--Composition:
“There is hereby established a Fire Department for the City, which shall consist of a Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief and such other members as shall be deemed necessary to provide adequate fire protection. In the event the City contracts or agrees with another Fire Department or entity to provide such services for the city, the positions within the Fire Department may remain vacant. References in this code to ‘Fire Department’ shall mean the entity performing fire services as applicable. The entity performing such services may designate persons within their department to enforce laws and code of the City of Camdenton pursuant to the all agreements between the parties.”
Morgan noted that the use of “Fire Department” in place of “Fire Chief” is a revision that should have been done even before the intergovernmental agreement with MCFPD as “Fire Department” more accurately represents all people responsible for upholding and enforcing fire codes and ordinances.
Chief Frandsen offered his belief that MCFPD’s board would not object if the City decides to retain the ability to sanction MCFPD’s choice for chief. He added that he could pursue the question with MCFPD’s board.
Alderwoman Osborn asked if the City would still receive the same reports it once received from its own fire department. Chief Frandsen assured the BOA that the same reports will be provided. Mayor McNabb noted the contract between the City and MCFPD specifies the reports that are required.
Alderman Hagedorn suggested the BOA consider a first reading of Bill 2652-16 to amend the City’s code for sections related to the Fire Department and postpone the second reading until November 15 so that Aldermen may confer with Attorney Morgan or other City staff about questions and concerns they have. This procedure was unanimously approved. Bill 2652-16 passed a first reading with Alderman Eden abstaining from the vote.
Frandsen joined in the BOA’s review of the City’s role in Halloween festivities. Osborn relayed one citizen’s suggestion that the City stage a city-wide Trunk or Treat. Frandsen noted there were at least five on the night of Halloween as well as the high school’s on Friday before Halloween, and each was very well attended. In reply to Alderwoman Osborn’s question about traffic control, Frandsen reported more safety measures may be warranted for some sites and suggested the City could help citizens by publicizing all Trunk or Treat opportunities for the public.
City Clerk Kingston reported Trunk or Treat staging is great for people who live outside the city limits. Alderwoman Gentry added that the police department’s decision to make Panoramic one-way for Halloween trick or treating worked very well. Gentry closed the meeting by asking the BOA to consider meeting at 6 p.m instead of 7 p.m.
