Nov. 30 meeting to target fire department issues

The Brainerd City Council will meet in an open session at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 to review issues within the fire department.

The issues were brought to the council's attention after Charlie Dunemann, International Association of Fire Fighters local union president, filed a grievance to determine if disciplining full-time firefighter Lance Davis was appropriate. Davis was disciplined after using a fire truck July 3 - while he was on duty - to fill what Dunemann described as a kids' swimming pool.

The grievance letter brought up a bigger problem about use of city vehicles, facilities and equipment, City Administrator Dan Vogt said earlier. By city policy, use of all three is strictly for city purposes and not for personal use by city employees unless approved by department heads. Vogt said in a memo to the council that a portion of the policy should be rewritten.

The council had no discussion Monday on the grievance or city policy concerning use of city vehicles. The Nov. 30 meeting will be televised.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.