“It’s no secret that we’re not in good shape,” Fennimore EMS Chief Brian Heisz opened with when addressing the Fennimore City Council during their monthly meeting held on Sept. 15.
Heisz, who along with his wife and fellow EMS member Jenifer, also stated to the council that the current volunteer system the EMS uses, “isn’t working.”
Heisz stated that currently the EMS has nine members, three of which, as Jenifer pointed out are from their family, herself, Brian, and their son.
With 336 calls last year and 210 so far this year, nine volunteers with limited time just isn’t working, Heisz stressed throughout his address to the council.
“We’re doing the job to get by,” Heisz went on to say. “But the culture of people giving their time is changing.”
“Everyone (on the EMS) does their part, but we’re just a small group, and it wears and tears on those who want to give,” Heisz stated, also pointing that for some, including himself and Jenifer, the EMS becomes a second full time job.
Mayor Ryan Boebel, who stated that “Their (Fennimore EMS) problem is also our problem,” and asked what Heisz and the EMS needed help with, which both he and Jenifer replied, “payroll.”
The Heisz’s hope for the future is to have at least six full time EMS staff members, either as city employees or as contracted service to run a 24/7 EMS.
Alderperson Jeff Hagen asked if they had people interested to fill those positions, to which Heisz replied, “Yes, we have at least four.”
“We can push numbers all day, but we need hamsters to run the wheel,” Mayor Boebel stated, meaning that before council crunches numbers, he wanted to find interest in EMS full time positions. Heisz stated he would reach out to those who have shown interest to him in holding full time EMS positions, while also being in contact with the other area municipalities the EMS serves.
Boebel said the council would also look over the financials and projections Heisz supplied to the council and they would address this again at next month’s council meeting.
Every council member then thanked the Heiszes and the Fennimore EMS for all they do and the time they sacrifice.
Ben Heidemann and Lydia Nelson of Town and Country Engineering presented the council options/model on changing the 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.
During last month’s meeting, a discussion suggested small usage rate increase increments over three years starting in 2026. Rates, which have not increased since 2016-2017, currently stand at an average monthly user rate of $52.93.
After going over options presented by Heidemann and Nelson, the council agreed to a 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.
Water rate checks would then be conducted roughly every two to four years.
Heidemann stated that 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.
In other council business, the council approved the job posting for the city’s vacant community development manager. The job description was approved at last month’s meeting.
The position has been vacant since former manager Lydia McLimans stepped down in November 2024.
Margaret Sprague of the Fennimore Tree Board gave a brief update of board business to the council, including the board looking at contracted services for projects in 2026, including tree removal in the oak savannah and tree thinning in the pine grove.
Sprague, who is also on the railroad museum board, received council approval, pending zoning, to install a permanent sign for train rides at the museum, stating if rides are available that day.
Finally, the council approved a lease agreement between the city and Kiel Martin/Martin Family Grain, LLC, in which the city agrees to lease to Martin approximately 154.4 acres, of which approximately 135 acres are tillable, within the Fennimore Industrial Park, located east of Switzer Road and also another 11.2 acres, of which approximately 6.5 acres are tillable.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of the Memorial Building.
