Jefferson establishes fire/EMS committee

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:14 PM CDT

JEFFERSON - Jefferson Mayor Gary Myers on Tuesday night made his appointments to the city's ad hoc Fire/EMS Consolidation Committee. The panel's members are Paul Peachey; Dale Oppermann; Tim Dorn; City Administrator Tim Freitag; Toby Tully Sr. and Bob DeWolf.

Myers made the appointments during Tuesday evening's regular meeting of the Jefferson Common Council.

The goal of the ad hoc study committee is to continue investigation into the potential for merging the fire and EMS departments under the direction and control of one, full-time director.

According to Freitag, Jeffer-son's longtime fire Chief John Powell plans to step down from his position as of Jan. 1, 2009, and the city would like to have direction before that time regarding how it will proceed in terms of leadership for fire and EMS services. Freitag noted, although Powell would retire as chief as of Jan. 1, 2009, he believes the city would make the transition to new leadership, likely, well after that date in 2009.

“The goal is to ultimately decide on a service model and an organizational structure before the city needs to replace Mr. Powell on Jan. 1, 2009,” Freitag said, adding a goal is to have a recommendation to present to the common council by the end of this summer.

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Also Tuesday night, city aldermen approved a proposed ordinance to create Chapter 320 of the city of Jefferson Municipal Code related to signs, as well as an ordinance to create Chapter 232 of the city's code related to a stormwater ordinance.

The common council also approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Liesch Environmental Services, Inc. for remedial and site capping engineering services for the old Schweiger lot at 116 Washington St., located downtown.

A resolution was also approved that calls for an agreement to be established with RSV Engineer-ing for the development of a parking expansion concept plan in the central business district at a cost that may not exceed $4,500.

At the close of the meeting, aldermen approved a resolution authorizing the temporary lease of city right-of-way to allow the families of Michael Meyers, Timothy Babcock and David Hutchison to hold a graduation party in the 100 block of South Fischer Avenue.

According to city officials, the Meyers family has provided the city with a certificate of insurance and the $50 for payment of the lease has also been made. The closure is scheduled for June 8 from 3 to 9 p.m.