The Northfield Area Fire and Rescue Service has decided to make a marked change in the department’s make-up by hiring a full-time 
fire chief. Board chair Paul Liebenstein said the decision came after over a year of conversation, and no fewer than three organizational reviews recommending a full-time position.
By all accounts, the strongest reason for the change is in the fire code enforcement responsibilities of the position. The official title will now be Fire Chief and Chief Fire Code Enforcement Official. Interim Fire Chief Tom Nelson has re-invigorated the fire prevention and code enforcement efforts of the department, and the new position will codify the changes he has made.
“The main thing is to investigate complaints of hazardous situations,” he said.
The department will now re-double their efforts with regard to inspections as well. With a part-time chief as the sole code enforcement official, there simply was not enough space to complete the required annual inspections of sprinkler systems, fire alarms and kitchen hoods in restaurants and commercial kitchens, but Nelson said with a full-time chief and one of the department captains assisting, inspections will happen as required.
He said the data collection aspect of things will improve as well, in the form of pre-planning. The new code enforcement efforts will allow for the department to collect as much information about a given property as possible, so the department will have a plan for the location should a fire break out.
Liebenstein, meanwhile, said another aspect of code enforcement is the reduction of nuisance calls. Quite often the fire department will be called to a residence hall or multi-family housing because the fire alarm is set off in a shared kitchen or another area by accident. Code requirements say that each of these calls must be answered without exception, so one of the goals of the code enforcement program is to work with those locations to minimize accidental incidents.
“So, if we can do a little work, if there are certain calls that keep coming in from a residential hall, and you can pinpoint why it’s happening – maybe it’s just that the smoke detector is in the wrong place. I think that should help us reduce these calls. And it’s important to do that, because in a volunteer situation like we have, it tends to take a toll on the firefighters.”
The search for a full-time chief is underway. That person is expected to be in place by January 18 of next year.
Rice county promoting wellness in the workplace
Rice County Public Health has announced a new Workplace Wellness Collaborative program that will help employers develop or improve
upon existing employee and workplace wellness initiatives.
Josh Ramaker, the county Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator said the program will teach and train businesses of all sizes about best practices to improve employee health. He said participants will learn how to engage employees through what he called a ‘culture of health’ that supports healthy behaviors.
Employers will work collaboratively or individually with Rice County SHIP staff. One designated person from a business will meet with others for one hour each month for six months. Ramaker said the group will use a formal curriculum to learn about the best ways to offer healthy opportunities to employees, but there will be a sharing of ideas as well. Wellness has always been a goal in any functioning business, he said, and this will be an opportunity for those businesses to discuss what has worked for them and to gain new ideas from other businesses.
“Some might be way down the road and really built a huge, very successful program, and some are maybe just getting started. But you can always learn from each other and just lean on each other as far as what that looks like and just get out of our silos. And it’s okay to say, ‘I don’t necessarily know everything or everything about this.’ And somebody who does think they know everything will find they can always learn from somebody else.”
Ramaker said there is little to no obligation to the program, and in fact, he makes sure those participating are not required to do any work outside of the classroom.
“We all have busy schedules,” he said. “I don’t want to add homework to that.”
Participating employers will receive free consultation, tools and templates to ensure success, and even possible funding to help sustain the initiatives stemming from the program. Employers of all sizes are welcome to attend and be a part of the collaborative. Ramaker said there is no great obligation, either. Whether an organization has a wellness initiative in place or is new to this type of work, employers are invited to learn more and participate.
The group begins Nov. 29 and meets through March 2023. To register or for more information, contact Josh Ramaker, Rice County Public Health SHIP Coordinator, at 507-332-5911 or josh.ramaker@ricecountymn.gov.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Josh Ramaker of Rice County Public Health can be heard here
Bridge Square back on the council agenda
And the Northfield City Council will meet tonight in the Council Chambers in City Hall. 
Among the items on the agenda this evening is a presentation to the council from the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee, offering a recap of the 2022 celebration. There will also be discussion of the final Bridge Square project design, and the council will consider approval of a professional service agreement with designers They will also receive an update on the Board and Commission Governance Effectiveness, which the council will discuss during the meeting as well.
As always, the city and the council are asking to hear opinions and comments from the public. Anyone who wishes to do so is invited to come to the meeting and address the council on any topic they see fit. Those wishing to voice their opinions without addressing the council should email their councilors directly or post a comment through the eComment button on the “Agendas” section of the City Council website.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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