Wisconsin Firefighters Return; Residents Want Permanent Protection
VANDENBROEK-KAUKAUNA, Wis.-- People in the towns of Kaukauna and Vandenbroek are using their collective power to get permanent fire protection.
After a year-and-a-half long dispute with the towns fire commission, the chief for the fire department quit at the end of last month. Four others followed suit.
Last Wednesday, more than half the department resigned after reading a letter the board wanted to mail out to residents, saying it was inflammatory.
But, during an emergency meeting Saturday, the volunteer department agreed to turn their pagers back on.
On Sunday, residents came up with a list of what they want their town leaders to do next.
They were the ones affected when volunteer firefighters decided to walk off the job, and now about a hundred Vandenbroek and Kaukauna residents decide its time they had a say in what's happening.
And at least some town leaders are open to what they come up with.
Vandenbroek Supervisor Jim Steineke said, "Give us your opinion, that's what we need. It might be a crazy idea, bring it up."
Though the crowd occasionally gets caught up in the emotion of the issue, simply expressing support for one side or the other, eventually it comes to a unanimous decision.
A four-person committee will go to both town boards by November 17.
It will ask the boards to immediately form another committee to look into plans for a detailed intergovermental agreement on fire service, or plans to treat the fire department like an independent small business, that the towns contract with.
Citizen committee member Brad Rettler said, "You have to get a start, you know. Next is to get the boards to get on board with what's going on. Whether that happens or not, we'll see, and hopefully it does."
Steineke said "Anytime you have an election looming in about 5 months, I believe what the citizens say, means a lot."
Board members at least in the town of Vandenbroek are by no means letting the issue disappear or slip away, already scheduling two meetings for Monday, one with an attorney, and another to talk amongst themselves about what to do with the issue next.
Republished with permission of WBAY-TV.
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