Colfax fire dept. budget, levy to remain the same for 2016
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The budget and the levy for the Colfax Community Fire Department will be the same for 2016 as it was in 2015.
The Colfax Community Fire Board met October 15 to review the proposed budget for 2016 of $112,700 and to approve the tax levy of $94,700 for 2016.
The budget and tax levy reflect a zero increase over 2015.
Minor changes to the 2016 budget included taking $500 out of the $1,200 office equipment line item and adding $250 each to property and liability insurance and workmen’s compensation insurance for a total of $8,250 for property and liability and $2,850 for workmen’s comp.
To date for 2015, the fire department has spent $597 on office equipment, and has spent $8,096 on property and liability insurance and $2,783 on workmen’s comp.
The property tax levy is divided up among the municipalities in the fire district according to the equalized value. The Town of Colfax has approximately 38 percent of the equalized value in the fire district. The Village of Colfax has approximately 24 percent of the equalized value, while the Town of Grant has about 18 percent and the Town of Otter Creek has approximately 19 percent.
The Town of Colfax has approximately $76 million in equalized value for 2015. The Village of Colfax has approximately $48 million in equalized value, while the Town of Grant has nearly $36 million, and the Town of Otter Creek has nearly $39 million.
The 2016 budget also includes about $28,500 for firefighter and officer wages, about $12,000 for gas, oil, maintenance and repair of trucks, approximately $9,400 for utilities (electricity, heat, telephone, internet, water and sewer), and $20,000 for the vehicle replacement fund.
As of October 15, the vehicle replacement account had a balance of $117,561.
The Colfax fire department anticipates replacing one of the fire engines in another five years. Depending upon the options and equipment installed, at today’s prices, a new fire engine could cost around $350,000 to $400,000.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Community Fire Board:
• Learned that the 2005 International truck the fire board approved purchasing in April is nearly ready to be put into service as a tanker truck. The fire district purchased the truck for $49,000 and approved up to $26,000 to fix the tank on the old truck and to install it on the new truck. Don Logslett, fire chief, reported that Tainter Machine had submitted the low bid for installing the tank and that even though some items had been added on, the total cost would stay below the $26,000 approved by the fire board. Logslett also reported that the firefighters had purchased lights and radios for the truck at a cost of about $7,000.
• Learned that so far this year, as of October 15, the number of fire runs for 2015 of 17 is substantially less than the total number of runs in 2014 of 25 and in 2013 of 27 runs.
• Learned that so far this year, the Colfax fire department has given mutual aid 15 times and has received mutual aid two times. In 2014, the fire department gave mutual aid 13 times and received mutual aid four times. In 2013, the fire department gave mutual aid 9 times and received mutual aid 16 times.
• Learned that so far this year, the fire department has spent $13,414 in mandatory testing and certifications. In 2014, the department spent $10,976 on testing and certifications. In 2013, the department spent $18,738 on testing and certifications.
• Learned that Logslett and Scott Gunnufson, village president and president of the fire board, have both received telephone calls from insurance companies wondering why properties in the Town of Tainter that are close to Colfax are actually covered by the Menomonie fire department. Logslett and Gunnufson said they have told the insurance representatives they would have to speak to the Tainter Town Board. The Tainter Town Board approved putting the entire township in the Menomonie fire district in January of 2009.
• Learned that the Colfax fire department has applied to the Otto Bremer Foundation for a $63,000 grant to finish purchasing new turnout gear for firefighters and to update radios and pagers.
• Approved authorizing the fire chief to sell the chassis of the old tanker truck.
• Approved Logslett as the fire chief for a two-year term. Logslett reported that the firefighters had elected him as fire chief at a recent meeting of the firefighters.
• Approved appointing Scott Gunnufson to another term as president of the Colfax fire board.