On Tuesday, January 19, council members voted 6 to 1 to increase the wages of these firefighters from $ 12 to $ 14 and pay them for a minimum of two hours of work, regardless of the length of their work presence. Jeff Boushee, the city’s new fire chief, proposed the plan, arguing that higher wages and a higher income floor would attract more potential workers and make short calls more valuing the time of existing workers.

“It will help me immensely in trying to achieve some of my goals here in the fire department,” Boushee told council members shortly after approving his plan, “and my staff will appreciate it.”

Paid Duty Firefighters are a sort of back-up for the East Grand Forks Fire Department. When firefighters are called on a call, paid firefighters on duty clock in, ready to go on a second call while the others are busy.

Council member Clarence Vetter was the only ‘no’ to vote on Boushee’s proposal.

“I think as soon as we say we’re going to pay someone for two hours, whether they’re there for 10 or 15 minutes, it won’t take too many years later. Come back and say, let’s increase it to three. hours, then four and so on, “Vetter said.” I’m not against the increase, so let’s just increase their hourly wages. “

Vetter suggested that the city also pay half the costs of training “POC” firefighters, which could also encourage more people to apply.

In addition, council members were informed of a new forgivable loan program set up by the city’s Economic Development Authority, which had been work to finalize details of the program since the end of December. Under the program, businesses located within city limits can receive up to $ 24,999 – one dollar less than the maximum allowed by Minnesota law – and, ultimately, nothing. pay off if they stay in town and in business for three years and hang on to a growing minimum of employees.

Any business in East Grand Forks can apply for a loan, but development authority officials plan to give preference to those restricted by Executive Orders of Governor Tim Walz, which, in particular, has banned food service in bars and restaurants statewide for nearly two months in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

East Grand Forks City Council members voted for send $ 260,000 from the city’s cash reserves to the Development Authority to fund the program, which complements a handful of others administered by Polk County and the state government, as well as a second non-repayable commercial loan program that the Development Authority has set up at the end of last year.