By Matthew Johnson

Reporter

The Wolf Lake City Council was informed during its Tuesday, Nov. 18, regular monthly meeting that the Wolf Lake Fire Department (WLFD) has responded to 58 calls for the year so far, which is 39 percent more than the department’s 10-year average, reported Wolf Lake Fire Chief Brock Anderson.  ¶  Chief Anderson reported that the department responded to eight of those calls just since last month’s regular council meeting. Four of those calls were for fires and the other four were mutual aid calls.  ¶  Anderson also told the council that, depending on the final invoice total for the department’s new fire truck, the major equipment fund could come up short by as much as $40,000.  ¶  The department committed to purchasing the new truck this past spring following the support of the city and surrounding townships at a total cost of $442,485. Anderson explained in April how the commitment to purchase the truck including a Sourcewell contract meant the price was locked in instead of continuing to rise due to the inflation rate. 

Officials have determined a payment plan for the truck is feasible even though the department did not receive a FEMA grant that it applied for last year. The actual scheduled completion of the fully assembled fire truck is November of 2026, but Anderson said it’s “very possible” that it will happen before that, he told the council in April.

In other fire department news, Anderson reported that the paving of the fire department parking lot was completed on Tuesday, Nov. 11. He also reported a number of repairs have been needed on the department’s vehicles. He said the grass rig quit moving on the way to a fire call last Friday, Nov. 14, and had to be towed to the repair shop. Firefighter personnel equipment is also aging and new upcoming expenses are expected related to that.

In other news

• Passed a motion authorizing the city to pay .22 percent of the state’s new required paid leave tax starting in January with employees paying .44 percent of the new .66 percent tax to pay for the new program.

• Reviewed liquor store monthly comparisons and the schedule 4. Pull tab amounts were over $2,355 in September and over $2,973 for October and new bar hours take effect Monday, Dec. 1.

• Reviewed the Wolf Lake Community Hall schedule for November and December, acknowledged another successful recent work day at the hall and were informed that flooring bids have been received to replace the rest of the hall’s old flooring.

• Adopted a resolution accepting a $16,000 donation from the Wolf Pack Baseball Club, which includes $14,000 to help pay for the new pickleball court expenses and $2,000 for aerators on Wolf Lake.

• Regular monthly meetings of the Wolf Lake City Council are usually held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at city hall.