5.7. SR 07-15-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: Mayor and City Council BrucE A. West, Fire Chie~~~/ July 15, 2002 SUBJECT: Request to Donate 1972 Ford PumPer to Maple Hill Township Item 5 .~. During the 2001 fiscal year the Elk River Fire Departmem purchased a new pumper to replace a 1972 Cabover Ford fire truck. Since the replacement of the 1972 Ford, it has been stored in the water tower on Freeport Street with the anticipation of locating a small town fire department that could put this used fire truck to good use. During the week of July 4, my wife and I were on vacation in the Grand Mamis area and I attended an open house for the Maple ~ Volunteer Fire Department along the Gunflint Trail. While talking with the Fire Department membership and Fire Chief, I discovered a true need from a small town fire department for the use of our 1972 Cabover Ford. During a quick history of the Maple t-rill Volunteer Fire Department, I discovered they have two fire stations; one along the Gunflint Trail and one north of the City of Grand Marais. Recently, while assisting the US Forest Service with the 400-acre wild fire near Powers Lake, Maple I-Ml's 1956 Peter Pirsch fire truck finally met its demise. The Maple I-M1 Volunteer Fire Department has been piecemealing the 1956 fire track for manyyears and it finally met its match. There is a tremendous need for the Maple I-mil Volunteer Fire Department to pick up a second pumper for use along the Gunflint Trail for fire protection. The Maple I-fill Volunteer Fire Department is truly a total volunteer fire organization. Their budget and funding is very limited; therefore, I am requesting Mayor and Council approval to donate to the Maple I-Tdl Volunteer Fire Departmem our 1972 Cabover FoM fire pumper. I have discussed this request with both City Administrator Pat Klaers and Finance Director Loft Johnson. Finance Director Lori Johnson has researched with the League of Minnesota Cities (LMQ the legality of the donation of the pumper to Maple t-fill Township. The opinion from LMC is that it is legal for the Mayor and City Council to vote and approve the donation of a piece of equipment to a fire department in the state and the equipment must be for public use.