Ground Level Category Archive: Public safety

For volunteer fire departments, recruits can be hard to find

Posted at 3:57 PM on May 23, 2012 by Jennifer Vogel (0 Comments)
Filed under: Local government finance, Public safety

It's getting harder in many Minnesota communities to find volunteer firefighters.

A case in point is White Bear Lake, says Tim Vadnais, chief of the city's fire department, which operates on a "paid on call" model. That means firefighters are paid around $12 per hour during emergencies but volunteer their time for training and special events.

"If I go back to when I first got on the department, there were many firefighters who were the single wage earners in the family," Vadnais said. "Now that has changed to where both people work and have children. They are making good money and like to spend their money on toys and enjoy the cabin and so on. It has changed from the early 1970s until now."

According to the State Fire Marshal's office, the vast majority of Minnesota's 792 fire departments are staffed by a combination of paid on call firefighters and volunteer, unpaid firefighters. Only 10 departments are fully staffed by so-called "career" firefighters.

Yet, in some cases, communities are having a tougher time drawing volunteers. "Many are," said Rob Boe, public safety project coordinator for the League of Minnesota Cities, who noted there are exceptions, departments with brimming waiting lists. He said sometimes the age of a particular population is the issue. "We've got part of the state where they don't have a lot of people of the age to be firefighters available."

More onerous training requirements can be a factor too, Boe said. He also thinks there is a "generational issue," meaning that today's younger people are less likely to give their time than generations prior. "I think it's a component of it," he said. "Part of it isn't all bad. We have parents devoted to their children and both working hard."

The generational issue comes into play for other volunteer-heavy endeavors as well, as Dave Peters wrote here recently.

In White Bear Lake, which provides fire and ambulance service to a handful of surrounding communities, firefighters receive benefits other than the $12 per hour, like pensions. But that's not necessarily enough to draw candidates anymore, so Vadnais has added additional fringe benefits, including health savings accounts and cheap houses for rent.

The department used to offer small rooms in the fire station for $50 per month. But in recent years, White Bear Lake has bought homes close to its fire stations that rent for $200 per month per occupant plus utilities. "As houses came up for sale, we thought this is a good time to purchase them," Vadnais said. "Rather than live in a 12 by 12 room in the fire station, it's more desirable to live in a house instead. It's more of an inducement. It helped recruit for the department and went over very well. I wish we had about four more."

White Bear Lake, like a lot of communities these days, is being creative when it comes to public safety in the face of tighter budgets. Some have folded their police departments and instead rely on the county sheriff for protection or have partnered with nearby cities to share police or fire services and save dollars. Still others are working harder to lure volunteers.

"A couple of years ago, our finance director did a study on other cities our size, looking at their fire department budgets," said Vadnais. "There is a west metro city the same size as White Bear Lake that provides fire but not ambulance service. That city has a career fire department. We have paid on call that provides fire and ambulance for close to 50,000 people in six communities. Our budget is $2 million less than that west metro city's. It behooves me to keep this an unpaid department as long as I can."

A year ago, the White Bear Lake fire department landed a FEMA grant that allowed it to ramp up recruitment efforts. The five year grant paid for the health savings accounts for firefighters and for advertising. It also allowed the department to hire a full time recruitment and retention staffer. "It's going well," said Vadnais. "Our maximum level of firefighters is 55. We were down to 45, but with the next hire, we'll be up to our maximum amount."

Vadnais said it isn't necessarily the wage or other financial benefits that draw people to the team, but rather, "altruism." He said, "People want to serve their community. Once they get in, they get hooked. There is no job better than to be able to go out and help someone at their worst every day of the week."

So, are people becoming less altruistic? "Yes, absolutely," he said.

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Group targets obstacle to entrepreneurship: unnecessary licensing

Posted at 11:04 AM on March 6, 2012 by Jennifer Vogel (0 Comments)
Filed under: Economic Development, Public safety

There are regulations that protect the public, like the kind that say you can't store cleaning solutions next to raw chicken in a restaurant kitchen. Then there are those that create overly onerous barriers for entrepreneurs looking to enter a particular profession, according to the Institute for Justice, a law firm with a libertarian bent.

Lee McGrath, executive director of the Institute's Minnesota branch, refers to the latter category of regulation as "fencing," since it often serves to protect existing businesses and may not benefit public safety.

"This is just deadly for entrepreneurs," McGrath said. "You see this all over the place, because existing companies find it easier to beat competition at the state capitol or city council than in the marketplace. Regulation is often introduced and enacted under the pretext of health and safety, but it has enormous anti-competitive components to it."

As part of our "One Job at a Time" project, Ground Level has spent the past week looking at entrepreneurism in Minnesota, including obstacles like access to startup capital and, for new immigrants, language and cultural barriers. Regulations can also get in the way. We've seen how the recent loosening of state and local laws has led to an explosion of local food carts and microbreweries.

In the past, the Institute for Justice has represented local taxi drivers and succeeded in lifting a cap on the number of cabs in Minneapolis, which resulted in a proliferation of both new companies and cabs, said McGrath. The group also represented sign hangers, horse teeth "floaters" or sanders and monks who make caskets. They've won some and lost some. "We focus on that first rung of economic liberty," said McGrath. "This is how you climb out of poverty and realize the American dream."

He holds up hair braiders as a prime example. The institute sued the state of Minnesota in 2005 on behalf of three hair braiders, two from Africa and one from North Minneapolis. The women wished to open a salon, but the state said they had to get extensive cosmetology training, costing thousands of dollars and having little if anything to do with hair braiding.

"The state threw in the towel in 2006," McGrath said. "The hair braiders were free. The cosmetology board in a spiteful move came back the following year and imposed a licensing requirement of 30 hours. We chose not to challenge that."

McGrath's arguments contain an unusual mix of free market ideology and concern for social justice. "What happens is, regulations reward those with wealth and political connections," he said, and wind up costing thousands of jobs in Minnesota and driving up consumer prices due to a lack of competition. He thinks the market, rather than licensing, is best at ferreting out frauds and incompetents. "Denny Hecker was a licensed auto dealer," he said.

Currently, the institute represents a St. Paul funeral home owner who wants to open a second location, but is being required by the state to build an embalming room, even though that service can be legally outsourced.

"There is a vibrant trade of third party embalmers," said McGrath, who notes that the funeral home provides low cost, no frills funeral services and spending "$30,000 to $50,000 to build the embalming room with all the piping and air and filtration" would be difficult. He thinks the case could go to trial in a year and is optimistic the funeral home will prevail. "We do feel very good about it. We have a terrific client."

The institute also is working on a bipartisan bill in the state Legislature that would make it harder for the state to impose new licensing requirements. "The idea is that when the Legislature is considering new occupational regulations, they must define real harm," said McGrath. "Not the hypothetical type. Second, once you have identified real harm, you must choose the least restrictive type of regulation to address the harm."

The legislation, McGrath said, "could have a big effect because it will create almost as many jobs as Governor Dayton is talking about when he talks about the bonding bill or creating a new stadium. This could be tremendous economic stimulus."

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What Nowthen might not get if it doesn't pay sheriff

Posted at 8:28 AM on December 22, 2011 by Curtis Gilbert (2 Comments)
Filed under: Local government finance, Public safety

The Nowthen City Council is reconsidering its decision to sharply reduce police coverage next year and has invited Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart to a meeting Dec. 28 to discuss the city's options.

Stuart sent a letter to council members Tuesday listing the types of incidents he would no longer investigate next year if the city doesn't start paying for his services.

The list includes burglaries, noise complaints, trespassing and traffic violations, as things Stuart would not respond to. The sheriff would still investigate deaths, vehicular injuries, car thefts and sex crimes, as is required under state law.

Stuart's list provides an insight into the dynamics swirling in an increasing number of communities as cities contract with sheriffs for law enforcement or otherwise try to determine what level of law enforcement they want

The letter also outlines a less expensive contract than the sheriff initially proposed. It would not require the city to pay for a new patrol car, and it would use a different staffing model.

The annual cost would be $213,740 starting in 2013, about $35,000 less than the earlier proposal. The sheriff has offered to provide the coverage at half price for the first year, an option that also existed under the initial contract he proposed.

City Clerk Corrie LeDoucer says it's probably too late for the city to increase its $1.1 million property tax levy for next year. She says the city could scrape together the $106,000 needed for the first year of the contract by refinancing its debt and tapping some unspent funds.

Nowthen, population 4,400, is the only city in Anoka County that does not have a police department or a contract for coverage from the sheriff. Incorporated in 2008, Nowthen is Minnesota's newest city. It used to be called Burns Township.

Previous sheriffs have tried to get Nowthen to start paying for patrols. Stuart is the first one to outline consequences if it did not.

Here's the letter from Sheriff Stuart.

Nowthen-12-20-2011

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Mankato recruits volunteer cops

Posted at 11:17 AM on March 28, 2011 by Jennifer Vogel (0 Comments)
Filed under: Local government finance, Public safety

In the face of cuts to local government aid and other funding, many cities are turning to volunteers to perform work that city employees used to do. In Mankato, the trend extends even to using unpaid licensed police officers.

One thing: If you're considering applying, you must have your own gun.

This isn't a new program in Mankato, says Todd Miller, the city's director of public safety, but it's been stepped up dramatically in recent months. He says Mankato has a reserve of non-sworn officers who patrol parks and parking ramps and help with traffic control during events. It also has a "part-time police officer unit," as Miller calls it. "They become licensed and sworn and can carry guns and make arrests. We utilize them for some of the same things as the reserves, but they can ride in a patrol with other sworn officers."

When Miller started as public safety director last April, he brought with him a philosophy he calls, "community-oriented governance," which involves "more outreach and more use of volunteers." That's especially important, he says, since there have been so many police officer and firefighter positions cut in recent years. "We have 30 volunteer firefighters," says Miller. "We want to increase that to 45. We have approximately 12 reserve police officers and 12 part time police officers. We want to double that if not more to make better use of the community."

He says volunteer cops are given a uniform but they have to provide their own special equipment, like Kevlar gloves. And they have to bring their own guns, which must be of a respectable make and 9 mm or larger caliber.

As for who is willing to do police work for free, Miller says, "Mankato has a great resource here. We have four institutes of higher education and a number of them have law enforcement or public safety classes. Some volunteers are hoping to get a leg up in their careers. It's tough to get a job. This is how they can get some experience." Others, he says, might be long-time residents who simply want to help out.

There are limits, of course, to how a city can use unpaid officers. "Some are limited in the time they can put in," says Miller. "That's the reason to have a large number. You're never going to get them all at the same time." He says volunteers haven't been used to fill regular shifts yet. "But that's a possibility in the future, too. If someone is sick, can we call them in? Sure, as long as we train and prepare them, they should have the same skills."

"The new normal is here and we are getting tired of hearing we have to do more with less," says Miller. "We're going to do the best we can with what we have."

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Can a city fight crime by spending on help for troubled youth?

Posted at 12:28 PM on February 11, 2011 by Michael Caputo (0 Comments)
Filed under: Public safety

Does Rochester spend its money for public safety wisely? Should resources be diverted from policing functions to helping young people at risk of being offenders? Are Rochester area people mentoring young people enough?

That's the subject of an online forum on Rochester, troubled youth and public safety spending today at 2 p.m.

This focus on prevention was a key discussion point during a forum staged by MPR News and the Post-Bulletin of Rochester on February 1 at the Mayo Civic Center.

Public Defender Janet Krueger's comments that night set the stage...

Krueger is scheduled to participate in this online discussion (2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11).

We have invited a city councilman, Michael Wojcik, who has thoughts about where the city ought to aim public safety spending. Check out this video to see and hear more about the conversation.

Then go to the conversation when it happens below. Join in...

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Reduce crime by mentoring a kid, public defender pleads

Posted at 10:27 AM on February 2, 2011 by Dave Peters (0 Comments)
Filed under: Public safety

Janet Krueger asked about 230 Rochester residents Tuesday night to do what they can to save her a little work.

Krueger is a public defender in Olmsted County, so she winds up in court on behalf of quite a few young people charged with crimes. She stood Tuesday evening at an MPR News-Rochester Post-Bulletin forum on public safety and suggested that if each of the people gathered agreed to mentor one kid, the number of crimes and her workload just might drop.

It was the emotional high point of an hour-and-a-half forum hosted by MPR News' Kate Smith on the facts and perceptions surrounding public safety in Rochester.

It's tempting to look at the numbers and ask what the problem is. Rochester's crime rate is 12th among Minnesota cities with more than 20,000 people and, as in the rest of the nation, it has been dropping steadily. There are fewer crimes per capita in Rochester than in other large outstate cities like St. Cloud, Mankato and Duluth.

Yet weapon use has risen, gang activity is feared, police are under pressure, an influx of Somali immigrants has fueled suspicion and there was the definite perception among some in the room at the Mayo Civic Center last night that low-income kids from dysfunctional families need help. That's where Krueger's plea came from.

The common elements for the young people she winds up defending don't involve race or even poverty, she said. What she sees time and again, she said are dysfunctional homes, often with a parent facing mental health or addiction issues.

You can hear her comments here:

As Kate pointed out at the evening's end, this Post-Bulletin summary is a good place to start for anyone interested in taking up her challenge to help.

It was a good crowd -- race, age, gender were mixed -- and the conversation was robust. You can get a sense of the evening by checking out the previous Ground Level blog post for the Insight Now live blog coverage that Michael Caputo generated.

For more background, check out MPR News reporter Elizabeth Baier's report from last week.

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Fact & Fears about Crime in Rochester (liveblogging the Feb. 1 forum)

Posted at 6:12 PM on February 1, 2011 by Michael Caputo (3 Comments)
Filed under: Public safety

UPDATE: This hour and a half conversation has ended. Check out the good back and forth by following the link below.

Crime and how to prevent it has grabbed the attention of Rochester leaders. Population growth and scattered acts of gang violence have pushed the issue forward. Over the last year, new officers have been hired and a reorganization of the police department has focused on proactive policing.

But the costs are high and their remains a concern about whether public safety resources are being used well.

So MPR News and the Post-Bulletin are holding a community-wide forum at the Mayo Civic Center on public safety. What's fact? What's fiction? What's complicated and needs further explaining? You don't have to be at the civic center to take part... just follow the liveblog.

WHAT: Rochester Crime, Fact & Fiction

WHEN: Tuesday February 1, 2011 7 PM

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Gangs? Misperceptions? Spending? Get a head start on tonight's Rochester crime forum

Posted at 9:51 AM on February 1, 2011 by Michael Caputo (2 Comments)
Filed under: Public safety

Tonight MPR News and the Rochester Post-Bulletin hold a forum on the facts and fictions around crime and public safety in the Rochester region. The newspaper has taken a weekend look at the history of street gangs in the Rochester area. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Baier took a longer view of the perception and the reality of crime in the Rochester region.

This reporting will launch the discussion hosted by MPR News' Kate Smith at the Mayo Civic Center at 7 p.m. But we wanted to get an early start online. So sources in the MPR Public Insight Network were asked about the facts and fictions of crime in Rochester. And many spoke up.

Some questioned how the city uses its prosecutorial resources, and whether it's smartly spending public safety dollars. Among them is Karen Duncan, the chief public defender for the southeast region, who said the level of activity in the courts is on the rise, even as overall crime stays flat:

"Prosecutors are behind the times in routinely favoring excessive charging and punishment in situations that could be handled both more cost effectively and also more effectively in terms of reducing recidivism. Fairly run-of-the-mill cases of wrongful person-on-person physical contact that five years ago would have been legitimately charged as misdemeanors are now being charged as felonies due to on overly broad reading of a recent legislative change creating a new felony domestic abuse crime definition."

Duncan went on to say that "unless a sufficient number of public defenders are added (funded) to justly handle the 90-percent-plus of the criminal cases within the court system here, the criminal courts will break down and the public perception of danger will increase."

Meanwhile a Rochester City Councilman, Michael Wojcik, questioned the city's spending for public safety.

"The 2001 operating budget was $844.05 per citizen (inflation adjusted) our 2011 budget calls for spending $846.50 per citizen. In other words, our budget is flat for the last decade. That said, property taxes are up significantly due to state LGA cuts. Hidden in the overall numbers is the fact that quality-of-life spending items like parks, library, and culture are down 7.5 percent. As such we have less amenities to keep kids out of trouble. At the same time spending on public safety is up nearly 10 percent. Public safety is eating up our budget. Contrary to the belief of some we are spending more and more on public safety at the cost of everything else."

It seems natural to ask whether Rochester is prosecuting crimes smartly and spending its public safety money wisely. We'll raise those questions at the forum tonight. But you can comment on this right now. Just do so below, or head to Insight Now and join the discussion there.

And tonight join us as we liveblog the Rochester forum.

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