The Santiago Township Board approved a new three-year contract with the Becker Fire Dept. after some discussion at the regular board meeting Wednesday night.  The board also continued to table action on a request from Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney for a motion of support for the new Sherburne County Economic Development Authority.

 

Though the board unanimously approved the new fire contract with the Becker Fire Dept. through 2017, a number of questions were raised during the discussion.

 

Supervisor Jeff Pappenfus said that a number of his constituents had asked him if the board had ever considered an agreement with either the Princeton or Foley fire departments which might result in a cost savings for the township.

 

Supervisor David Jehoich said any such change would create an interesting question in regard to the current volunteer firemen, as would they still report to Becker, or be part of the other department.  Chairman Stuart Nelson also said that it would take the fire service in Santiago “back to ground zero” in terms of established first responders.

 

Treasurer Jeff Anderson voiced a concern about a new piece of language in the contract which states that the cost of the fire agreement for Santiago will never fall below $30,000.  While fire protection costs are unlikely to go down, he said that it seemed like a curious addition to the language at this time.

 

Clerk Kathy Woolard said the new contract would give the township a full three years to consider its options, while Jehoich commented that the agreement can be terminated by either side with a 120 day written notice.

 

Pappenfus said the matter can be referred to the residents at the next annual meeting for further discussion.  “That is what the annual meeting is for,” he said, to which Nelson responded “Yes, it is.”

 

After another discussion, the board agreed to keep action on a request for a motion of support for the new Sherburne County Economic Development Authority on the table for at least another month, and agreed to request another visit from Heaney to elicit more information as to the potential effects the new body could have on Santiago Township.

 

Pappenfus cited concerns over potential new “rules and regulations” that could affect Centra-Sota, the leading taxpayer in the township, and other residents going forward.

 

Nelson opined that it would be better to be a part of the organization, in that the township would at least “have a voice” in any proposals put forward.

 

Woolard commented Heaney had said in an earlier presentation to the board the development authority cannot raise taxes on its own, and must rely on the county board for funding for any programs it proposes.

 

At the close of the debate, the board approved a resolution tabling action on the matter, and extending an invitation to county officials to re-visit the board at a future meeting to discuss the questions raised over the proposed motion of support.

 

Jehoich was nominated for another term on the county zoning commission, with Pappenfus named as the alternate for the next three years.