Last year the city discussed having Pequot Lakes Fire
Department serve the entire city. The
city had been served by both Pequot Lakes and Ideal Fire Departments. With a change in approach, Ideal Fire
Department had proposed some significant increases in the cost to contract with
them. The city wanted to see if there
was a more cost effective way to provide service.
Pequot Lakes Fire Department was contacted and the proposal
to serve the city as a whole was developed using the fair share formula. Having a station in Breezy Point also
factored into the decision. Service to
the areas served by Ideal Fire Department could be served, in most situations,
quicker with response out of this station.
The change was made and took place this spring.
The fire contract amount from Pequot Lakes FD for 2014 is $74,335.18. In 2013 Pequot Lakes Fire service contract
amount was $71,251.82. The increase for
2014 is $3,083.36. When looking at this change last year it was estimated our
total cost increase would be about $2,600.
The increase is approximately $500 more than projected. Most of this is explained with an increase in
the overall fire department budget. The
projections done last year used the 2013 budget and parameters. The 2013 fire service costs with both Ideal
and Pequot Lakes was $79,151.82. Our
cost savings from 2013 to 2014 shows an overall decrease of $4,816.64.
The change is favorable from two perspectives. Service to areas previously served by Ideal
Fire Department will see response times that are equal to or better. Pequot Lakes Fire Department serves that area
out of the Breezy Point station. We also
save approximately $5,000.
