MONROE — Members of the Rural Fire District filled Monroe’s City Hall during the Jan 18. Common Council meeting in what was the culmination of over a year of back and forth between the two.
The RFD and City of Monroe cut ties as their fire protection contract ended with 2020, but the RFD going a separate way did not put an end to the disagreements.
Members of the RFD attended the meeting and spoke during public comment in response to a notice from the city dated Jan. 18.
The letter explained that the city’s recent change of zoning denial for the RFD firehouse meant that the conditional use permit application submitted by the RFD could not be considered. The city returned the application and fees.
It continued to explain that “the current zoning for 840 W. 8th Street allows for the storage of vehicles,” but that “operation as a fire station is not permitted.”
Though City Code allows for up to $1,000 in fines per offense per day, the City informed the RFD that they will have 90 days to find a new location.
If they are out of the property by April 15, 2021, the citations will be voided.
The vote on the change of zoning petition took place at the Jan. 4 meeting. It ended in a tie, with Mayor Louis Armstrong breaking the tie and voting against the change. He joined alders Kelly Hermanson, Rob Driver, Michael Boyce and Richard Thoman in voting no.
In discussion, Hermanson expressed concern of a decrease in tax revenue with no additional benefit the city. The location brings in $14,000 per year in property taxes.
Alders Donna Douglas, Joshua Binger, Tammy Fetterolf and Mickey Beam voted in favor of the change. Alder Brooke Bauman was absent.
“We’re getting a bad rap here on all this for, in my mind, some bad planning on the part of the RFD,” Armstrong said. “Moving into and functioning in a building that’s not zoned properly and just assuming that they can function that way. Their errant planning is being overlooked.”
Armstrong said that the decision not to change the zoning was made simply because keeping the location a Suburban Mixed Use zone rather than Institutional allows the building to remain commercial, but community members who spoke at the meeting said that the decision to deny the request puts citizens in danger by blocking their emergency services.
“Do you know why we’re firefighters?” RFD Chief Nick Bartels asked the council. “First and foremost, to help people on our community. That’s what we’re here for… When there’s actions taking place by this council or any government whatsoever that may be, to halt that in any way is absolutely ridiculous.”
RFD members were not the only ones to express disappointment in the council’s Jan. 4 decision.
Kathy Kubly took the stand to recount the emotional 1976 night she lost her home to a fire. She was concerned that the fines for responding may prevent others from receiving the help she did on that night.
“If it were your house, wouldn’t you want them to come?” Kubly said. “You can’t think about money in things like this, you have to think about lives. Stop and think a little bit, you’ve got to realize that these are people’s lives you’re dealing with. I don’t care how much it costs [the city].”
The RFD started responding to calls from the new location Jan. 1 after announcing in October that they would not be proceeding with a long-term contract with the city.
Just two months later, they started responding from their new department’s new firehouse.
Armstrong said that not enough planning on the end of the RFD is what led to the issue at hand.
“We’ve been accused of not caring about saving lives and property which is a bunch of nonsense,” Armstrong said. “Their ill planning has become our emergency.”