Spark Change: Waite Park Fire Department Seeks Community Input to Tackle Staffing Challenges

Originally published February 8th, 2024

Updated February 23rd, 2024 5:12 a.m.

(KNSI) — The Waite Park Fire Department has launched a community survey to ask business owners and residents to guide them in addressing staffing challenges within the department.

Waite Park and St. Cloud formalized a ten year fire service agreement in November 2023. Waite Park is having struggles staying even half staffed, and the city had been acting on a handshake deal for several months to provide a four man crew from St. Cloud to respond to all of the fire calls. Now, it will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $300,000 to $500,000 a year. The payments are made quarterly, and either side can terminate the deal with a one year notice. Starting in July, St. Cloud will also respond to medical calls as part of the agreement.

Waite Park says they want to hear what matters most to the community, whether it’s the cost of service, response times, or the approach of individual versus regional responses. All of that, they say, plays a vital role in safety and well-being, and they want everyone’s perspectives to shape their decisions.

The city also conducted a study on a new fire station, exploring the possibility of switching to full-time personnel. Officials say nothing is off the table, but nothing has been committed to, either.

The survey will be open through February 23rd.

Take it by clicking here.

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