TOWN OF BLAINE & TOWN OF DAIRYLAND
JOINT TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 4th, 2026
Blaine Town Hall/Northland Community Center
(PENDING TOWN BOARD APPROVAL)
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Mike Metcalf called the March 4th, 2026 joint meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairman Mike Metcalf, Supervisor Josh Fornengo, Clerk Ryan Brennan, Chairman Rick Gustafson, Supervisor Ray Sandstrom Jr., Supervisor Michael Schaaf, Clerk Tammy Baer, Dan & Nicole Sear, Gwen Schaaf, Bruce & Maureen Rivard, Dawn Snow, Billy Fish, Matt Holter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
TOPIC: Evaluating the feasibility of forming a joint fire association between the towns of Blaine & Dairyland.
SUMMARY:
1) Purpose: The key driver is long-term sustainability, as neither community alone can efficiently absorb the escalating costs of apparatus replacement, training mandates, volunteer recruitment, and facility maintenance that define modern fire protection. A carefully designed association will help preserve local representation, stabilize taxpayer costs, improve response capability, protect the volunteer model, and create a predictable capital-replacement plan.
2) Considerations: Some possible risks to consider discussed amongst attendees included governance complexity, financial allocation disputes, perceptive loss of local autonomy, excessive transitional & startup efforts, and overlapping communication issues between departments.
3) Recommendations: The following steps were proposed for successful implementation, including adopting a joint resolution of intent, forming a fire association planning committee, conducting a joint operational assessment, designing a governance model, developing a fair cost-sharing formula, drafting an intergovernmental agreement, and engaging the public before final approval.
4) Conclusion: Members of both town boards expressed interest in furthering discussions to explore the potential benefits. Mike Metcalf will consult with the fire departments of Swiss & Summit, while Billy Fish will consult with the Unity Fire Association members consisting of Centuria, Milltown, and Balsam Lake. Representatives of the potential fire association would include Mike Metcalf & Josh Fornengo from the Town of Blaine, Ray Sandstrom Jr. & Michael Schaaf from the Town of Dairyland, and Billy Fish & Matt Holter from the Dairyland Fire Department. The prospective representatives then exchanged contact information and reviewed their respective tasks. The public is reminded that the purpose of this joint town board meeting was simply furthering the exploratory phase of creating a joint fire association—no final decision on whether or not it will be formed has been made as of yet.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mike Metcalf declared the meeting adjourned 8:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan W. Brennan, Town Clerk
Signed and dated this 4th day of March, 2026
By: __________________________________________
Michael C. Metcalf, Chairman