Fire chief: Traffic signal technology “most likely” not going up soon
In November, Helmerichs asked the city council for
"Blindsiding" Helmerichs, the city council voted to amend the request, signing off on using video gaming revenue for half the cost while asking for the other half to be paid for by an independent firefighter board known as the
The city council asked for
However, since the board is made up of firefighters on different shifts, a special meeting has not yet been worked out, according to board president Capt.
Last month, the
The board is governed by a list of "appropriate" expenditures, instead of the broad guidelines defined in state law. Nowhere on the list is infrastructure, Burton said, which he consider the traffic signal technology to be.
"According to the bylaws, infrastructure is not our responsibility," Burton said. He added, "I've never seen the city we have to buy half without speaking a word to us."
As a firefighter who has served for more than 20 years, Burton said he has seen traffic signal technology come and go. He said he wanted to hear more about how the system would be maintained and what the efficacy of the system would be.
Helmerichs admitted that past signal technology placed on traffic lights within the city was not effective. Those systems were not GPS-based, nor did they have the range that current system does.
"Technology has gone leaps and bounds over what we did before," Helmerichs said.
Even though
"We need to move on if we have to," Langfelder said.
So what does the
Because all of the members are appointed, the board has policies in place to push back on the narrative that the
"Some people over there call it a slush fund, but the board scrutinizes everything that's asked of it," Burton said. "Plus, the chief has veto power."
Burton said the board is audited every single year and both he and treasurer
In order for an item to be considered by the board, a majority of the firehouse has to approve. Whenever the city requests the board buy a piece of equipment, Helmerichs often would fill out a form and give a presentation.
Oftentimes, the money is used to replace worn items in the houses and equipment. In the last three years, the most expense item on the list was
"We live in these houses," Jaeger said. "Any given day there's fifty guys living in these houses."
All of the defibrillators in the city were upgraded this year after the board approved
It bought a Zodiac rescue boat and trailer for the dive team, which cost about
"We are better prepared today," Burton said. "... Bringing in the bodies brings closure to the families."
Every year, the board spends about
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