_04022026-92

Joint Fire/EMS Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes (Village of Belgium, Village of Fredonia, Town of Belgium, Town of Fredonia) August 26, 2026, at 6 :0 0 PM Fredonia Government Center 242 Fredonia Ave, Fredonia, WI 53021 1. Admin/ Clerk Jenkins called the meeting to order , in the absence of Chairman Winkler , followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Members Present : Village of Fredonia: Richard Abegglen Village of Belgium: Rose Sauers Town of Belgium: Bill Janesheck, Tom Bic h ler Town of Fredonia: Chris Janik, John Depies Staff Present: Administrator/Clerk Jenkins, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Kudek of McMahon Engineers and Architects . Public Present: 3. Motion to Appoint Richard Abegglen as C hair of the Joint Fire and EMS Advisory Committee made by Mr. Janeshek Seconded by Mr. Depies Passed by 6-0 voice vote. 4. Motion to Approve Minutes from April 2, 2026, Meeting of the Governing Bodies of the Joint Fire/EMS Advisory Committee made by Mr. Bichler. Seconded by Mr. Depies. Passed by 5 -0 -1 voice vote , Ms. S auers abstaining. 5. Items for Action and/or Discussion a) Robert Whittaker and Gerald Kudek reviewed the McMahon & Associates Fire and EMS Collaboration Study , including a survey of available apparatus, volunteer levels, ISO ratings, and calls for service. Mr. Whittaker reviewed challenges and possible solutions, although he emphasized recommendations are not one-size-fits all. He recognized declining volunteerism but stated that paid-on-call volunteers would be risked if departments are consolidated. He suggested an opportunity for collaboration could be a shared fire inspector. Mr. Whittaker recommended considering the creation of a fire and/or EMS district, with a governing body that each department could contract with. A district could provide relief to departments challenged by staffing EMS or paramedic employees or capitol purchases. Mr. Janik asked if EMS services run through the local departments if a district was created. Mr. Whittaker stated the district could be set up with different scopes of service that could change over time. Mr. Janik asked if a fire district could be an umbrella service and function as a budgeting tool that feeds operations as required. Mr. Whittaker deferred to the DOR and a municipal attorney to understand if the state would allow it. Mr. Depies asked if Mr. Whittaker suggests selling aging or redundant equipment. He responded that selling equipment across departments would require some level of cooperation between municipalities as departments would become more dependent on each other. Mr. Depies asked if the fire chiefs would work in tandem as part of a district. It would depend on the structure of the district. Mr. Whittaker felt the four communities are in a better place than many communities but must start watching staffing and volunteer levels as they continue to decline over the next decade. Mr. Janik recognized that collaboration could be a benefit but must come from the grassroots level. b) Discussion and Possible Action on Future Collaboration of Participating Municipalities. The Committee reviewed the recommendations of the study. Questions regarding liability of drivers in other department ’s vehicles and standards of maintenance should be referred to an attorney for response. Mr. Janesheck did not think a fire district is possible in the near future . The Town of Belgium is already considering reducing its fleet. Mr. Bic h ler felt they should wait a few years and revisit. Mr. Depies would like a report from the three chiefs after they discuss it with their staff. Attrition is a real concern for him. Ms. Sauers said she ’d like to think proactively, but “ if it isn ’t broke, don ’t fix it ” . She would like a sense of the demographics of each department. The fire chiefs were invited to provide direct feedback. After some discussion, Administrator Jenkins was directed to prepare a survey for the chiefs with questions to be submitted by the Committee. Mr. Janesheck asked about the ISO rating. Administrator Jenkins reminded him that there was a lengthy presentation at the previous meeting, and the ratings weren ’t significantly impacted by a change in apparatus. The committee discussed a joint fire inspector and will request feedback from the chiefs on the subject . Mr. Whittaker said that a fire or EMS district would not be dissimilar to this committee if the structure was changed from contracting with the Village of Fredonia to a governing body. A district would allow the communities to fund fire or EMS services outside of state-set levy limits. c) Discussion of Capitol Equipment Needs of Participating Municipalities. Administrator Jenkins stated that the Village has sold a fire truck to fund the purchase of an ambulance, and has begun pricing out the purchase of a new ladder truck. The current truck is aging and replacement parts for the ladder mechanism are no longer made. The Village of Fredonia has no clear path to financing the estimated $1.6 million purchase, and he reinforced that this apparatus is the only one of its kind in n orthern Ozaukee County and serves all four participating municipalities. 6. Motion to Adjourn made by Ms. Sauers . Seconded by Mr. Janesheck. Passed by 6-0 voice vote.