Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Town board to meet with Virginia ambulance director

Will discuss possibility of building a station in Greenwood

Jodi Summit
Posted 11/17/21

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board is setting up a special meeting with Virginia Fire/Ambulance Chief Al Lewis, sometime the week after Thanksgiving, to discuss building a Virginia Ambulance …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Town board to meet with Virginia ambulance director

Will discuss possibility of building a station in Greenwood

Posted

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board is setting up a special meeting with Virginia Fire/Ambulance Chief Al Lewis, sometime the week after Thanksgiving, to discuss building a Virginia Ambulance out-station staffed by Virginia EMS personnel in the township. Tentative dates included Nov. 30 or Dec. 2. Once finalized, the date will be published in the paper. The board will also be inviting officials from Bois Forte to attend. The meeting will be open to the public.
This discussion has arisen from financial management issues seen with the Tower Ambulance Service, and issues surrounding annual subsidy payments for the Tower Area Ambulance Commission, which help fund the purchase of new ambulances. Some township officials and residents have wondered if the township would be better served by the Virginia Ambulance, which is staffed with paramedics, not EMTs.
The board voted to sign the 2021 TAAC contract and to make their annual subsidy payments.
At their Nov. 10 meeting, the board had questions for fire department members on the response to the tragic house explosion and fire on Everett Bay Road, where one person died and another was seriously injured. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Indihar said they would have more information once the formal report was released.
Indihar and training officer Rick Worringer discussed the department’s initial deployment to the scene. They noted that in cases like this, EMRs often report on scene as fast as possible, perhaps not in their turnout gear, to get an initial assessment.
“Each scene is a little different,” said Indihar. “I’ve gone to scenes on my snowmobile to make sure we aren’t sending the department running out to a false alarm.”
“Our fire department operated very well at this fire,” Indihar said. “Rick [Worringer] was incident command at the start, and when other fire departments arrived, Worringer asked Breitung Chief Steve Burgess to take incident command so that Rick could continue to run the pumps.”
Worringer said he had rushed to the scene in a fire truck without taking time to put on his turnout gear, and began to immediately put water onto the fire. Once other responders had arrived, he said, he took time to put on his turnout gear.
Indihar said the department is reviewing the response and repairing some equipment, including their portable pump.
The mutual aid at the scene was vital, Indihar said.
“The Tower Fire Department is a young group, but they were really helpful,” he said. “Our fire department was really thankful they were there.”
Indihar also singled out the assistance from the Breitung and Vermilion Lake departments.
Indihar talked about their department’s positive relationship with the Tower Ambulance Service.
“The Tower Ambulance is also a young crew, but they have really stepped up. Our EMRs have nothing but good things to say about the Tower Ambulance Service.”
“Tower is helping us,” Indihar said. “Don’t underestimate that value. We support Tower, Breitung, and Vermilion Lake. Our EMS people are telling me that Tower Ambulance is doing a great job. I just want you guys to know.”
The board also asked how many fire department members did not have up-to-date turnout gear that is required to do interior firefighting.
“We want our people to be safe,” said Drobac.
Fire department member Jeff Maus said that six members currently have gear which is considered “expired,” but said that not all these firefighters are able to do interior firefighting. Firefighters that are able to do interior work have special reflective stickers on their helmets, he said.
Worringer said he thought that 19 of their members have done the required training needed, but that only nine have the gear and health certifications needed. Worringer said in his six years on the department, he had never needed to do interior firefighting.
Worringer also told the board that all the fire department members, except for the two newest, have completed the firefighter one and two training. Chief Dave Fazio was unable to give this information when previously requested by two supervisors. Worringer also said that supervisors were welcome to review all the documentation of the in-house training done on a monthly basis.
The board asked the department to come back with a list of those members who need new gear so they can make a purchasing plan.
In other business, the board:
• Still had issues with missing financial data in the board packet, which was missing the claims sheet. Ralston read each claim out loud, and the board approved the claims, minus one that they had a question on, by a 3-2 vote, with Drobac and Lofquist voting against. It was noted that the claims list should have been part of the public packet. Ralston said he could get a copy to any interested resident when the clerk, who was absent from the meeting, was back at the office.
• Tabled the October treasurer’s report, which was not approved at last month’s meeting due to some inconsistencies. Treasurer Belinda Fazio was also absent from the meeting. The board did approve the November treasurer’s report.
• Made a formal motion, passed 3-2, to accept the monthly pay rate of $384.16 for the chairman and $357.63 for supervisors. The monthly pay rates when the township did their own payroll in the CTAS program was slightly different, at $383.14 and $358.14. Drobac had repeatedly brought up this issue, wondering why the pay had been changed. Supervisor and chairman’s annual pay is set in the budget but has been subject to small annual increases. The last document that was found showed the chairman’s annual wage at $4,609.89, and supervisors’ at $4,291.53.
• Will look into returning to the township’s previous payroll system using CTAS through the Minnesota Association of Townships, instead of continuing with the current ADP payroll system, due to customer service problems working with ADP. The board decided to wait to act on the issue until the treasurer and clerk are present. The township pays a monthly fee to ADP. The change was made because it was supposed to be easier to work with and to reduce hours spent by the treasurer.
“I can’t agree more [with making this change],” said Ralston. “It has been a total cluster.”
• Heard a question from Drobac who asked why the supervisors’ pay slips showed hours worked at 16 hours per month. Deputy Treasurer Tammy Mortaloni said this was done because the state wanted a specific number of hours for a monthly salary, so it could be used in the future for any potential unemployment claims.
• Heard from Drobac and Lofquist that the clerk is asking them to go through the formal public data request process when they ask her for township information they need to perform their official duties as supervisors.
“Is she going to decide that isn’t her job?” asked Drobac.
“You have to ask her that,” said Ralston. “She’s an elected clerk.”
• Heard that the 2020 census count for Greenwood Township is 1,041. The census recorded 1,796 housing units, with 493 occupied housing units.
• Voted down a proposal, 3-2, from Lofquist to hire the Colossimo Law Firm as the township attorney.
• Heard that the 2020 census count for Greenwood Township is 1,041. The census recorded 1,796 housing units, with 493 occupied housing units.
• Voted down a proposal, 3-2, from Lofquist to hire the Colossimo Law Firm as the township attorney.