Colfax fire department 2017 budget, levy remains unchanged

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX  —  The Colfax Community Fire District Board has approved a budget for 2017 of $112,700, which is the same amount as the 2015 and 2016 budgets.

The Colfax fire board met October 13 at the fire station to review and approve the budget and levy for 2017.

Colfax Fire Chief Don Logslett said in his report that so far this year, the fire department has gone out on 18 runs, compared to 17 runs last year.

The number of runs for this year and last year represents a substantial decrease in runs compared to 25 for 2014 and 27 for 2015, Logslett said.

Regarding future expenditures, Logslett said the fire department would soon have to replace one of the tanker trucks.

“The tender is getting tired,” he said.

The tender in question has a fiberglass tank and was purchased by the Colfax fire department in 1987. At that time the vehicle was used and had been a garbage truck in its previous life, Logslett said..

“It’s starting to nickel and dime us now,” he said

Purchasing another used tender is expected to cost $50,000 or $55,000, Logslett said.

As of August 31, the fire district’s equipment replacement fund contained $165,226.96.

Logslett said fire department personnel would begin searching for a replacement tender, and if something suitable turned up, the fire board could call a special meeting to approve the purchase.

When asked about the purchase of a fire engine, Logslett said he anticipated that one of the fire engines would need to be replaced in two or three years.

A used fire engine could cost around $200,000.

The Colfax fire district’s budget sets aside $20,000 per year for the equipment replacement fund.

“The fire department and EMS do a great job on grants,” said Scott Gunnufson, president of the fire board and Colfax village president.

The Colfax fire district includes the Village of Colfax and the Towns of Colfax, Grant and Otter Creek.

“It speaks a lot that the budget has stayed the same,” Gunnufson said.

The 2017 budget contains $1,500 for clothing, and when asked if that was enough, Logslett said because the fire department had received a $40,000 Otto Bremer Foundation grant, all of the firefighters now have new turnout gear.

A set of turnout gear for one firefighter costs about $2,500.

In addition to approving the budget for 2017, the Colfax fire board also approved tax levies for 2017.

The Town of Colfax, which contains 39.7 percent of the equalized value in the fire district at $78.3 million, will pay a tax levy $37,597.63.

The Village of Colfax, which contains 21.8 percent of the equalized value in the fire district at $43.1 million, will pay a tax levy of $20,685.25.

The Town of Grant, which contains 18.7 percent of the equalized value at $36.8 million, will pay a tax levy of $17,676.22.

The Town of Otter Creek, which contains 19.8 percent of the equalized value at $39.04 million, will pay a tax levy of $18,749.89.

Fire runs for this year include three grass fires, one structure fire, three false alarms, four car accidents, three gas leaks (carbon monoxide), and four swimming pool fills.

Other business

In other business, the Colfax fire board:

• Approved Dean Logslett as the assistant fire chief.

• Approved Gary Bjork, representing the Town of Colfax, as president of the Colfax fire board.

• Learned that the fire department is still interested in building a storage shed on the fire station property. The firefighters will build and pay for the shed themselves, and it will not cost the fire district any money, Logslett said. Bjork suggested that a set of plans for the shed should be presented at the next meeting so the fire board could review and consider the plans for approval.