Item 3.1 8-18-26 Draft Public Safety Meeting MinutesPUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION
Fire Station #1
August 18, 2026
6:30 PM
1
1.Call to Order:
This meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call: Chair David Greeman; Commissioners: Rossamon Becker, Jim Buchanan,
Dan Freiberg, and Judy Sibert.
Absent/excused: Loren Green, Gregory Hubbard, Kyle Heltemes
City Council: Mayor Jessica Stockman, CM Ryan Dunlap, CM Michelle Lund, and CM
Correy Tanner
Absent/excused: CM Tina Goede
Absent/excused: Interim Fire Chief Mike Scott
2.Consider Agenda Approval:
Commissioner Freiberg moved to approve the agenda as written. Seconded by
Commissioner Sibert. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.
3.Consider the Following Minutes:
3.1 Meeting of July 14, 2026
Commissioner Freiberg moved to approve the minutes as written. Seconded by
Commissioner Sibert. All in favor. Motion carried 5-0.
4.Open Forum:
4.1 . None
5.Special Presentation;
5.1 Representatives of the Minnesota Office of EMS, Elk River Ambulance, Allina EMS,
and Centra Care EMS attended the meeting to share with the Commission
information pertaining to their organizations and operations. Present at the meeting
were: Director Dylan Fergeson of the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical
Services, Coordinator Stephen Dittbenner of Elk River Ambulance, Operations
Supervisor Tony Palmiatto of Allina EMS, Manager Brian Nord of Allina EMS, and
Frank Zinken of Centra Care EMS.
The presentation began with Director Fergeson sharing an overview of the MN Office
of EMS, its founding in the 1970s and 80s, its authority, and its responsibilities. The
MN Office of EMS currently has 294 licensed primary care service areas in
Item 3.1
2
Minnesota. He said the organization's regulatory power is limited when it comes to
changing primary service areas for ambulance service providers. He also shared
that no statute currently addresses ambulance response times and that fifty
percent of ambulance licensees are governmental entities. A main requirement for
licensees is that they must be able to respond to a call for service 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. The Ambulance Service Medical Director determines
the specific services licensees provide.
The presentation evolved into a discussion in which each ambulance service
provider shared with the Commission about their organization. The Commission
asked questions about service areas, personnel costs, equipment, mutual aid
protocols, and dealing with a mass casualty incident (MCI), and the representatives
answered each of the questions, which gave the Commission a broader
understanding of each ambulance provider serving the City of Otsego (Elk River
Ambulance, Allina EMS, and Centra Care EMS).
At the conclusion of the discussion, Director Fergeson agreed to send Fire Chief
McCoy a report the MN Office of EMS prepared in response to an information
request for summary data on cities with populations over 20,000 and metrics like
those of the City of Otsego.
6. Review Received Monthly Reports:
6.1 Rogers Fire Department
The department submitted the monthly report to the Commission in the meeting
packet.
6.2 Wright County Sheriff’s Department
The department submitted the monthly report to the Commission in the meeting
packet.
Sergeant Jason Oltmanns shared that the Sheriff’s Office has received 34
complaints related to minors operating e-bikes within the City of Otsego. He also
shared a recap of some cases in adjoining jurisdictions that the Sheriff’s Office
investigated and that were recently adjudicated.
7. Report from Fire Chief:
7.1 Personnel
The Chief reported that the City received 62 applications for the full-time firefighter
position. The City currently has three applications for the full-time Fire Captain
position and 73 applications for the part-time firefighter position.
3
8. Prairie Festival
Chair Greeman reminded the commission of the Prairie Festival being held on
Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9 AM to 10 PM. The commission will once
again provide a staffed booth at the event. Further information will be made
available at the September commission meeting.
9. Next Meeting:
Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Fire Station No. 1.
10. Adjournment:
Commissioner Freiberg moved to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Sibert. All
in favor. Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.
Minutes taken and submitted by Commissioner Buchanan.