In a continuation from last month’s city council meeting, Fennimore EMS Chief Brian Heisz once again spoke to the council with more information and numbers to hopefully come to a solution to the squad’s ongoing staffing issues.
Heisz informed the council as of now, he potentially had three people “committed with uncertainty” to be full time employed EMS staffers.
“We would have 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. covered, one person staffed for Saturday 24 hours and two on weeknights,” Heisz explained. “These would be full time jobs, with on-call people available to fill the gaps.”
Heisz also explained that ideally, the goal would be six people employed full time, with two people staffed 24/7.
While the council looked over the numbers Heisz provided, including possible wages, benefits, insurance, etc., Alderperson Adam Day stated he looked into examples if the city contracted EMS services out such as Cuba City does with Southwest Health and Prairie du Chien with Emplify Health as another possibility.
Day also asked should the city go ahead with hiring full time EMS employees and the other municipalities who the squad covers opted to have theirs with another squad would the city have their shared cost increase.
Heisz replied yes, but there would be less calls and less service area. But say for example a call came from Wingville and their chosen squad was unavailable, if Fennimore was, they still would have to respond.
Day stated to Heisz he wasn’t against the idea of having a full time EMS staff, but wanted to look into all options. “These are just tough talks we have to have,” Day stated.
Alderperson Sarah Kretschman shared Day’s concerns stating, “We don’t want to throw money at something just for a short term fix.”
Kretschman asked if it was possible if some of the city fire department members could also be dual volunteers with the fire department and EMS. Heisz responded that, “In this day and age it requires more schooling and a lot more commitment due to licensing.”
Fennimore Mayor Ryan Boebel proposed that with the “meat and potatoes” numbers provided by Heisz, the city form a committee with council and EMS members and also find representatives from other cities who have dealt with this situation.
The proposed committee was agreed upon with Heisz thanking the council for “taking a lot of the weight of this off his shoulders.”
Wastewater rates
The wastewater usage rate increase increments over three years starting in 2026 that has been in discussion by the council over the past two months was officially approved at Monday’s meeting.
The rate increase will change the city’s current 40-year waste water treatment facility (WWTF) loan to also account for the upcoming clean water fund loan needed for the U.S. Highway 18 Department of Transportation (DOT) project in 2028, with payback starting in 2029, and future purchase of new UV equipment at the WWTF.
The council voted last month to a new 25-year payback model which would accumulate extra revenue for the next two years, allowing the city to pay the DOT with cash in 2028.
Rates, which have not increased since 2016-2017, currently stand at an average monthly user rate of $52.93.
Effective Dec. 26, fixed charges shall be based on the size of the water meter(s) serving the user:
•5/8” $29.06
•3/4” $29.06
•1” $72.64
•1-1/4” $101.70
•1-1/2” $145.29
•2” $232.46
•3” $435.87
•4” $726.45
Additionally, there will be a volume charge based on water usage as determined from regular water meter readings. The charge shall increase in equal steps over the next three years:
•2026 $12.04/ 1,000 gal.
•2027 $15.58/ 1,000 gal.
•2028 $19.12/ 1,000 gal.
Water rate checks would then be conducted roughly every two to fours years. Fennimore’s projected increased monthly water user rate of $87.38 by 2028 would be comparable to area communities who also have had recent WWTF projects.
Marsden Park permit
The council also approved the building permit to erect a new building to be used as a park garage for storage, maintenance, and repairs.
The 21,000 cubic foot building, which will stand where the former Caretaker’s house was located, would also have a public rest room.
The council approved the park’s permit request with park board trustee member Chuck Stenner thanking the city for their “continuous working relationship.”
Director of Public Work Anthony Downing reported that the city crew has been working with the Marsden Park group on the tear down of the Caretaker’s house and the backfilling.
Other business
Fennimore School District Administrator Jane Wonderling and Fennimore Elementary School Principal Hillary Day asked the council to consider making the intersections at 8th and Madison and 9th and Madison in front of the elementary school into four-way stops.
Wonderling stated the road in front of the school has gotten busier with larger amounts of traffic before, after, and during school and as Wonderling stated, “We’ve had a few close calls with kids crossing the street.”
The council unanimously approved the school’s request.
In her report, Fennimore City Clerk-Treasurer Ashley Edge stated she had completed a recycling grant for 2026, with an expected payout of approximately $10,800 around May 2026.
On behalf of the library, Edge also submitted the first payment request for the grant that was awarded to the library toward its remodeling/expansion project.
The initial request has been fulfilled, Edge stated, and “we’re working on collecting the information to request the second draw for the grant.”
The council also updated their procurement policy at the request of Downing to increase the spending amount of city department budgeted purchases needing council approval from over $5,000 to $10,000. Downing stated raising costs of materials, equipment, etc., as a factor and also stated the increase to $10,000 was in line with other area procurement polices.
The next monthly meeting of the city council is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of the Memorial Building.
