An anticipated jump in the cost of fire services for 2008-09 was discussed this week by the Kasson Township Board.

Empire Township Supervisor Bill Bolton and trustee Carl (Bucky) Noonan appeared at the regular monthly meeting of the Township Board Monday night to discuss what could be a significant increase in the annual fee paid by Kasson for fire protection.

“They wanted to see how we felt about it,” Clerk Kathlyn Feys said. “(The cost) could almost double.”

Kasson paid the Empire Fire Department $40,000 for fire protection services in 2007-08. Empire was contracted to cover the western portion of the township. An additional $43,000 was paid to the Cedar Fire Department to cover the easternmost portion of the township.

Empire Township is moving forward with its efforts to establish a 24/7 full-time paid fire and rescue department. The plan is to have two full-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians at the Empire fire hall 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the existing paid part-time members supplementing the full-time roster.

In 2000, Empire Township voters approved a 10-year property tax to fund fire and rescue services. The township was given authority to levy up to 5 mills each year of the millage to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the fire department and to cover the township’s portion of a contract with Glen Arbor EMS to provide ambulance service to the township. Due to the Headlee amendment to the state Constitution, Empire Township was only able to levy 4.25 mills in 2007, which will generate $625,000.

The goal is to merge the township fire departments into one. However, the decision will ultimately depend on input at the Annual Meeting of the township inhabitants.

Kasson Township officials will have to consider whether they wish to continue receiving services from Empire Township and how these services will be funded.

Township officials will likely discuss the issue at a special workshop meeting to prepare the budget, scheduled for 9 a.m., March 15 at the township hall. The Annual Meeting is slated for 10 a.m., Saturday March 29.
In other business during the meeting, which lasted less than one hour, the board:

• Reappointed Marilyn Flaska to a 3-year term on the township zoning Board of Appeals. With the terms of Penny Rosendahl and Tim Newman set to expire, the board agreed to post the vacancies in the Enterprise along with slot for an alternate.

• Established a $200 fee for site plan review revisions.

• Agreed to repair rather than replace its recording machine used for township proceedings.