Robeck blocks change in city charter on GFD

Councilor Allen Robeck’s vote against changing the Glencoe City Charter left proponents of a proposed change in how the fire department selects its members and officers two weeks to convince him to support the change or possibly place the issue on a referendum ballot this fall.
The city council voted 4-1 Monday, Aug. 5, in favor of a proposed change in the city charter. The change would allow the volunteer fire department to switch from electing new firefighters and officers to lead the department to a selection process based on the recommendation of a committee charged with selecting the most qualified people to become firefighters or officers based on training and qualifications for leadership positions.
The League of Minnesota Cities, the associations representing fire chiefs and fire marshals statewide recommends selecting firefighters to serve on the department because of their qualifications and appointing senior leaders based on training and expertise, said Glencoe Fire Chief Cory Scheidt. Placing trained and experienced firefighters in leadership posts, and not those who won an election, is also expected to protect the department from liability, he said.

(For the complete story, see the Aug. 7 print edition of The McLeod County Chronicle.)