District · Meeting minutes
Regular Board Meeting
· 8:00 PM · Station 1, 3014 34th St NW, Mandan, ND 58554
Status: Approved July 15, 2026
Director’s meeting of the MRFPD met on June 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM.
The meeting was called to order by President M Gartner.Directors in attendance were D Ell, S Gartner M Gartner, T Gartner, D Gustin, D Hille, J Hopkins, T Kalvoda, K Kirchmeier, B Klesalek, K Nelson, C Rebenitsch, J Steckler, P Sweeney and J Thomsen.Also Present were L Gustin and several Fire Personnel.
S Gartner presented the board with the Minutes, Treasurer’s Report and the Monthly bills..Motion by T Kalvolda, 2nd by B Klesalek to approve the minutes.Motion carried.
D Hille asked what big expenditures were coming up.Explained there was the new truck coming that needed to be paid for, our half of the Forest Service Grant and also that there was the new pump for 141.
Motion by D Ell, 2nd by D Gustin to approve the Treasurer’s Report.Motion carried.
S Gartner is looking into creating a Webpage for the Board.She is looking into different host and looking for ideas as to what it should look like.It was suggested that we piggyback off of the Morton County Website.
The Mill Levy Election failed.Contacted the Morton County Auditor Dawn Rhone to see if they needed any of the records or ballots.She does not since it failed.We received an email on the subject.We will keep all of the records for a period of time.
President M Gartner presented the Budget for 2027.Motion by C Rebenitsch, 2nd by B Klesalek to approve the budget.Motion carried.
It was discussed earlier in the year to start having one meeting at the St Anthony Hall per year.Motion by T Gartner, 2nd by K Nelson for the September meeting to be held in St Anthony.Motion carried.
Chief’s Report:
- There has been no major calls.There was a couple of vehicle fires.
- Update on the pump for unit 1411.The cost of the pump is $12,000.00 and it has been ordered.
- The annual Fire Picnic will be on July 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
- The chief will be setting up a text group for himself and the board members for updates such as the picnic and the Xmas party.
- There is a possibility of going in November to make the final inspection of the new truck that was ordered.
- Chris Morrell contacted the chief on the possibility of the county making a deal with landowners for underground tanks and work with Missouri West.
- There is a healing process that needs to be taken for the fire personnel.The election was not their decision but the boards, however the fire personnel are being put down.There needs a stop put to arrows being slung and come to a compromise.
J Thomsen brought up that if you have a problem with people on the board to not take it out on the fire personnel.D Hille stated there is no problem with the fire personnel and that people are not against the fire personnel but with the process.We need to be more transparent.It was brought up that maybe Emergency Management can do a study for us.J Smith brought up that we need to do a 5 year plan explaining why things are needed.K Kirchmeier stated that the election was pushed too fast and too hard.We need a longer plan and a study is needed.It was asked of the Chief that the officers of the department come up with a plan.D Ell suggested a committee of a couple of community members, some fireman and some board members be formed to get ideas.J Leingang brought up that there have already been several studies completed.D Hille stated we need a separate group to come up with facts and figures on what is needed and where the most calls are and what types of calls are received.We need teamwork. More discussion followed. T Gartner mentioned that this has never been attempted in 64 years and it has been a learning experience.
Motion by T Gartner, 2nd by K Kirchmeier to pay the monthly bills.Motion carried.
Motion by D Ell to adjourn, 2nd by B Klesalek to adjourn.Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Shelly Gartner Sec/Treas MRFPD