Item 5.1 Fire Department Update4/23/2026
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Fire Department Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 27, 2026
Proposed
Staffing Model
from Director
Rausch 2025
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3 Full-time Captains starting
November 2026
6 Full-time Firefighters starting
December 2026
20 Part-time Firefighters starting
September 2026
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2
Item 5.1.A.
4/23/2026
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Progress
NERIS #
•RECEIVED OUR NATIONAL EMEREGENCY INCIDENT
REPORTING SYSTEM (NERIS) ID
•Incident reporting to the State
•Eligible for fire training reimbursement
•June 30th deadline
•Eligible for grants
•Can establish our own fire key box system
•Eligible for future Fire State Aid
Progress
•FIRE STATION
•June 1st, 2026, operational for staff, equipment and
training
•Apparatus
•Modifying pick-up to brush truck
•Radios installed in existing trucks and graphics
changed to match Wright County Fire Chiefs standard
•New chiefs SUV ready
•2 Pierce fire trucks arriving in June
•Equipment
•Ordered long wait time items, other items should be
operational preference
•Hose, rescue tools, nozzles, station items
•SCBA, loose equipment for trucks, turnout gear
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4
4/23/2026
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Fire Chief
•CHIEF MCCOY STARTING MAY 4TH
•AUSTIN MODEL EXPERIENCE
•3 full-time per shift like your plan
•Augmented with part-time firefighters like your plan
Part-time
Firefighters
•TOTAL APPLICANTS 70+
•PRIORITY GIVEN TO THOSE LIVING IN OR NEAR
OTSEGO
•CHIEF MCCOY WILL BE PART OF INTERVIEW
PROCESS OF 30+ CANDIDATES MAY 5-6TH
•APPROVED TO HIRE 20
•Typically, you over comp # of positions hired due to
resignations during training.
•Goal to have on June 22nd Council meeting
•TRAINING STARTS IN JULY
•Two nights per week through November to get all
required training and State Fire Certifications
•EMR training to follow in November/December
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4/23/2026
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Fire Captains
• Received 19+ applications
• Approved to hire 2
• Interviews week of May 11
th
• Council Meeting June 8
th
• Goal to have onboard in late June
–Assist with training
–SOP/SOG’s
–Equipment and station readiness
Fire
Marshal
•Greatest future need is a Fire Marshal
•Otsego one of MN’s fastest growing cities
•Plan review
•Answering questions of developers
•Engaged from start through building process
•Creating life safety inspection program of existing
commercial, retail, multi-family buildings
•Coordinating Community Outreach Events
•Review and propose city ordinances
•BBQs on decks multi-family
•Open burning
•Fire Pits
•Fire Sprinklers 1306
•General fire code
•Fire Key Box system
•Currently three+ different programs in Otsego
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8
4/23/2026
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Community
Risk
Reduction
• Previously had 8+ CRR members
• Dormant since Fall 2025
• Spring has seen increase in community
outreach requests
–Events and help needed before part-time staffing is
onboard
•Like Touch a Truck
•Assist with station items
•Final inspection of Pierce trucks
–Need new part-time staff to focus on training
• Public Safety Commission voted in favor of
temporarily hiring two past members of CRR to
help with these limited items until new staffing
can take over (temporary).
Non-
renewal
Fire
Service
Contracts
•CHIEF MCCOY AND I AGREE THAT THERE IS NOT A
NEED TO RENEW CURRENT FIRE SERVICE CONTRACTS
•With updated implementation of your 2025 staffing
plan, we will be fully functioning as a fire/EMS
department January 1, 2027
•Mutual Aid
•Otsego will provide mutual aid to our neighbors when
requested with our on-duty crew and backfill Otsego with
our part-time staff as needed.
•Chief McCoy’s known leadership style with our
neighbors and improved relationships with our
neighbors over past 8 months has greatly improved
our partnerships.
•We continue to work with all of our neighbors to
discuss 2027 and beyond, shared services, dispatch
agreements, and mutual aid
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10
4/23/2026
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Questions?
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11
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Fire Interim Fire Chief Scott April 27, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Fire City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty
City Attorney Kendall
5.1 (B) – Contract Notices
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
X Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend the City Council authorization to provide notices for non-renewal of contracted Fire Protection.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The City of Otsego has current contractual agreements with the cities of Albertville, Elk River, and Rogers for Fire
Protection services. With the Otsego Fire Department planned to be fully operational by January 2027, having such
agreements would be duplicating efforts by the fire departments and would be costly to have contracted services in
addition to the operating costs of a City department.
Albertville – The current contract with the City of Albertville is set to expire on December 31, 2026, and therefore has
no formal notice requirement for non-renewal of the contract.
Elk River – The current contract with the City of Elk River includes a provision for annual renewal and requires notice of
non-renewal. City staff will provide formal written notice to the City of Elk River to meet this requirement.
Rogers – The current contract with the City of Rogers includes a provision for automatic annual renewal and requires
notice of non-renewal. City staff will provide formal written notice to the City of Rogers to meet this requirement.
City staff have remained engaged with the City Administrators and Fire Chiefs in each community on potential
opportunities for shared services, mutual aid, and automatic dispatch agreements. The cities of Albertville and Elk River
are currently going through transition of leadership within their Fire Departments. The opportune time to continue
engagement on these agreements will align with hiring of the Otsego Chief and Fire Chief’s in those communities.
The City appreciates the long-standing partnerships and services rendered throughout the duration of these contracts
and remains committed to cooperating fully during the transition period to ensure continuity of public safety and
operational stability.
While these notices serve as intent for non-renewal of contracted services, the goal will be to continue engagement on
ways for our cities to work together for mutually beneficial agreements and shared services.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• None
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to authorize City staff to provide notices to the cities of Albertville, Elk River, and Rogers that the City of
Otsego will not be renewing contracted services for Fire Protection in 2027.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
N/A
N/A
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Fire Department Interim Fire Chief Mike Scott April 27, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Fire Department Assistant City Administrator/Human Resources Hille 5.1 (C) – Hiring Approval
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
X Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
X Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend the City Council approve the hiring for Community Risk Reduction positions.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The Otsego Fire Department is currently in the recruitment phase to hire (2) full-time Captains and (20) part-time
Firefighters. These new positions will not be filled until early July. In the meantime, the Otsego Fire Department has
requests to attend community outreach events such as the Touch a truck event on May 12, and other community
events. The interim Fire Chief is also in need of assistance with tasks at the new fire station that will need to be
completed in May and June.
Chief Scott discussed the proposal to rehire two previous CRR members to assist with community outreach events and
tasks with the new station and fire apparatus until a time that approved part-time & full-time fire staff can take over
these tasks. At their April 2026 meeting, the Public Safety Commission supported this recommendation for
consideration of approval by the City Council.
The two members have completed necessary pre-employment screening and will work as needed in these positions
for a maximum of six months, or upon recommendation of the Fire Chief that the services can be transitioned to the
full and part-time staff of the Department.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• None
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to approve hiring Gregory Hubbard and Larry Hudson for the Community Risk Reduction positions, with pay at
$16.00 per hour, for a maximum amount of six months.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
General Fund – Fire Protection (42200) Yes