County fire chief explains likely result of closing city's fire department

Linn County Fire Chief Randy Hegwald reported on Monday that the Pleasanton City Council was considering shutting down the city fire department and what that would mean to the county. (Linn County Fire Department)

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – On Monday, May 5, Linn County Commissioner Alison Hamilton asked that county Fire Chief Randy Hegwald report at the commission's May 12 meeting on the status of the mutual aid agreements with the cities.

Hegwald said the only one that they have out currently is with the city of Pleasanton. He said the city council was going through the situation with their fire department right now. The city of Pleasanton is considering closing their city fire department.

Hegwald said pending the city’s decisions they would move forward with mutual aide agreement with them. After that is completed, Hegwald said he would approach Linn Valley and La Cygne about the agreements with them.

“I think it would be good if you were giving us ramifications of everything that they are considering,” Commissioner Jason Hightower said.

Hegwald answered that Pleasanton is talking about disbanding their city fire department. If that happens, the Pleasanton City Council would then come to the commission to request that Pleasanton would be absorbed into the county fire district. If that happens, then everything that is inside the city limits would then start seeing a fire protection fee just like everybody outside the city limits pay now.

“So, anybody that’s in the Fire District No. 1 is paying a fire protection tax on their property taxes,” Hegwald said. “Right now the city of Pleasanton citizens, business owners are not paying that. So that would be the major change.”

He repeated that Pleasanton would come and request the absorption and then starting Jan. 1 they would get a fire protection tax on their houses and businesses.

Hightower asked what the absorption would be doing to the county’s budget.

Hegwald said it would do two things. It would mean revenue coming into the county fire department and possibly could drop the county’s mill levy for the fire department.

Hightower asked about whether there would be a need to add new equipment.

Hegwald did not see any equipment that would need to be added, but he might request that the roster spots for the county fire station at Pleasanton be increased.

In his regular weekly report, Hegwald said that there were four calls for the past week which brings the yearly total up to 259 calls.