Feb. 23 -- ROCHESTER -- Agreements for fire response to four townships surrounding Rochester remain in the works, less than a year before the current 10-year agreement is set to expire.
Discussions of a new agreement started last year , but the first draft was rejected by townships when some board members opposed added requirements calling for support of Rochester's plans for city growth.
The contract discussions came as Olmsted County commissioners were seeking to tweak oversight of land uses outside city limits, which reduced the city's ability to veto requests for changes that could allow development to occur contrary to city plans.
Former Rochester Fire Chief Eric Kerska, who retired in January, said the goal of the proposed changes in fire service agreements was to avoid conflicts similar to the one seen in 2020, when Rochester Public Schools asked the city to annex 80 acres into southwest Rochester for a new middle school amid concerns about the lack of infrastructure, including adequate fire response for a new school and related residential growth.
Some township officers pointed to a desire to separate development issues from the contract that was intended to focus on fire prevention for communities surrounding the city.
Others pointed to concerns that a lapsed agreement could cause township residents to see higher insurance premiums for their homes and businesses, due to lengthened response times if fire crews needed to be called from farther away.
Rochester's firefighters currently respond to Cascade, Marion and Rochester townships, as well as half of Haverhill Township, and a new contract would be the third 10-year contract for service the areas.
On Monday, the Rochester City Council will be updated during a 3:30 p.m. study session on progress to reach new contract agreements before the existing contracts expire at the end of the year.
Since the last council discussion, county commissioners updated the policy related to land-use map changes , Mason Poole has become Rochester's new fire chief and four new members joined the council.
Additionally, a report to the council points to January decisions by three townships to support a fire service contract that doesn't fully reflect conversations between the city and township officials in recent months.
The new contracts are expected to implement a 4.5% annual service change increase, which is up from 4% in the current contracts. The increase is an effort to more closely mirror the average 4.7% annual bump in operating expenses experienced by the Rochester Fire Department since the current contract was signed in 2015.
The new contract also is expected to clean up contract language and update services provided.
Monday's council discussion is slated to include proposals for a section of the contract that addresses growth coordination between the city and townships.
Proposals seek to clarify or modify the earlier language seeking to ensure changes to infrastructure and development in the townships don't hamper the Rochester Fire Department's ability to provide service. One proposed version would require coordinated township and city approval of future changes, while another course could limit service to existing developed areas.
City administration and fire department officials will ask the council on Monday for feedback related to options as work on new contracts continue
Assistant City Administrator Ryan Yetzer has said the goal is to finalize contracts that meet township and city requirements before asking the City Council to vote on final approval later this year.
Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of Feb. 24 include:
Rochester
-- Outside Agency Oversight Committee, 1 p.m. Monday in room 104 in City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE.
-- City Council study session, 3:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. The meeting will livestream at www.rochestermn.gov/meetings/council-meetings and be available on Spectrum cable channel 180 or 188.
-- Fire Civil Service Commission, 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 in City Hall.
-- Heritage Preservation Commission, 5 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center.
-- Planning and Zoning Commission, 5 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the Government Center.
Olmsted County
-- Soil and Water Conservation District Board, 8 a.m. Thursday in conference room 109 at 1188 50th St. SE Rochester