Fire Chief Position Profile The Community The City of Long Lake is located in west central Hennepin County at the edge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The city is situated on the shores of Long Lake, a recreational resource that provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, waterskiing and boating. The City of Long Lake is home to 1,839 residents and is comprised of residential, commercial, retail and industrial businesses. The city is nearly 100% developed and is characteristic of an established small town in a historical setting. The City Council and appointed commissions take a proactive approach to both community and strategic planning and maintaining a “village identity” is a primary goal of community leaders. The downtown area is located on Highway 12 which carries approximately 25,000 vehicles per day through Long Lake. In 2005, the Minnesota Department of Transportation began construction on the realignment of Hwy. 12 to the south of the downtown to relieve increasing transportation congestion that affected local residents and businesses. The realignment will be completed in 2008 and has presented opportunities for redevelopment and revitalization. Most of the city’s housing stock was built over the last forty years, however, residential building activity has been steady over the past five years. Housing is predominately owner-occupied and affordable with a balance of single family, townhouse and apartment units. The city is expected to continue to add residential units over the next decade, some of which will be higher density in the downtown area. Long Lake was once a farm-to-market town and farmers in the area established the Minnesota Fruit Growers Association to promote strawberry and raspberry production. During the 1920’s the city transitioned from an agriculture economy to consumer oriented services with the addition of cafes and other amenities that catered to those seeking a summer retreat on the lake. In the 1950s the city expanded through annexation to the present size of one square mile. Long Lake is surrounded completely by the City of Orono (pop 7,700) and the two cities have entered into cooperative agreements for sharing services and resources. The city of Long Lake contracts with the city of Orono for police protection services and Long Lake provides fire protection services for a majority of the Orono community. The Long Lake downtown serves as the commercial hub for both areas. Education and Recreation The Orono Public School District 278 serves all or part of the Cities of Long Lake, Independence, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetonka Beach and Orono. The District serves students in K-12 grades in four schools on a 120-acre central campus bordered by 2,000 feet of lakeshore. Schumann Elementary School houses grades K-2 and the Multi-Age Community with students in grades 1-2; Orono Intermediate School serves grades 3-5; the Middle School serves grades 6-8, and the High School serves grades 9-12. The District employs over 300 staff members and serves a student population of 2,400. The central campus houses a childcare facility, a swimming pool, the Orono Ice Arena and a nature study area. A stadium, multiple tennis courts, four campus gymnasiums, two auditoriums and ample fields for football, soccer, baseball, softball and other outdoor activities provide for athletic and academic co-curricular activities. The District also operates the Orono Discovery Center, a community center offering a numerous programs and activities for citizens of all ages. The City of Long Lake maintains four city parks, all containing playground equipment and picnic facilities. Nelson Lakeside Park is located on Long Lake and features a public boat launch, fishing pier and swimming beach. Holbrook, Hardin and Dexter Parks offer ball fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts. A skating rink facility is at Holbrook Park. The Luce Line State Trail is a 63-mile rails-to-trails hiking and biking trail that runs just south of the city. Long Lake is home to the Pioneer Museum run by the West Hennepin County Pioneer association. The museum is housed in an old schoolhouse in downtown Long Lake. City festivals include Buckhorn Days sponsored by the Long Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Corn Days sponsored by the St George Church. The Organization The City of Long Lake is governed by a Mayor and four-member City Council. The Council is assisted by the Planning Commission, Park Board and the Economic Development Authority. City Departments include City Administrator, City Clerk, Finance Director, City Planner, Fire Chief and Public Works Director. Long Lake contracts with the City of Orono for police services. Fire Department Organizational Chart  The Fire Department The Long Lake Fire Department is a department of the City of Long Lake and serves the cities of Long Lake (100%), Orono (94%) and Medina (12%). The Department is staffed in two beautiful new stations that are well equipped. Station 1 was built in 2003 at a cost of $3,400,000, as a result of the Hwy 12 relocation project through Long Lake. Station 2 was built at a cost of $1,500,000 by the city of Orono in 2004 in order to provide a more timely response to that area of the city. At that time the city contracted for a three year period with the Excelsior Fire Department to recruit and train the personnel at Station 2. This station and the staff were transferred to the responsibility of the Long Lake Fire Department in January of 2007. This transition has created some ongoing adjustments within the department in that there are staff who have served for many decades and others who are relatively new to the operation. The department has had three Chiefs in the last four years and all members are looking forward to stability in the position and establishing an identity for the entire department. The Department is currently directed by a paid on-call Fire Chief, appointed by the Long Lake City Council and reports directly to the City Administrator. A Fire Advisory Commission, consisting of City Council representatives and staff from the three service cities, serves in an advisory capacity to the Long Lake City Council. The Fire Advisory Commission has had an evolving role with the department and is attempting to transition from an administrative role to being an advisory group for the respective cities. The group enjoys a good relationship with the three city councils and the department staff. A primary function of the group is to review the annual proposed budget and recommend spending priorities through the operating and capital budget process. Currently reporting to the Chief are one Assistant Chief, one Captain and four Lieutenants. There are 44 firefighters on staff: 27 at Station 1 and 17 at Station 2. The Chief delegates responsibility to designated firefighters for various operations areas, i.e., training officer, medical officer, safety officer, and engineer. All officers are paid a quarterly stipend and firefighters are paid for normal calls and training pay. The department responds to fire calls, alarms, medical emergencies, storm damage, personal injury accidents on land and water, deals with hazardous materials and performs rescue operations. Department Bylaws and City Code currently govern the operation of the Department. It is anticipated that upon hiring a full-time Fire Chief, the Bylaws will be replaced by a new City of Long Lake Fire Department Handbook. Mission To minimize the loss of life and property for its fire service recipients in the Cities of Long Lake, Orono and Medina from fires, natural disasters, life threatening situations including medical emergencies, and to assist other emergency agencies. It is the Department’s goal to perform these services in a professional and efficient manner by maintaining effective training, fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency response. The Position The Fire Chief will report to the City Administrator and is responsible for the planning, direction and administration of the Fire Department. Specific duties: • Direct Department operations with respect to equipment, apparatus, and personnel. • Supervise all department employees and provide for training. • Develop and implement policies and procedures. • Coordinate and communicate with the City Administrator, Fire Advisory Commission and City Council on fire related activities. • Recommend the annual operating budget for the Department to the City Administrator and ensure that all purchases and operational needs are within the approved budget. • Work cooperatively with the City Administrator, Finance Director and the Fire Advisory Commission to develop and maintain a major and minor Capital Equipment Replacement Plan. • Serve as the Fire Marshal and enforce fire prevention laws and codes. • Work with the City Planner and Building Official to review building plans and to make recommendations regarding fire inspection and prevention programs. • Maintain fire and emergency incident records and reports. • Ensure timely response to fire calls, emergency incidents and direct firefighting activities, as needed. • Address civic and other groups regarding the activities and programs of the department. Represent the department at intergovernmental meetings. • Work cooperatively with other Fire and Police Departments and Ambulance Services. Provide mutual aid to neighboring departments. • Understand this is a “working executive” position that requires residency within fifteen minutes of the fire service area. Background and Experience Qualified candidates for the Fire Chief position will possess an AA or BA degree, have completed Firefighter I, II, and III training, or the equivalent Fire Department, State and NFPA training, and have a minimum of five years experience as an active firefighter with three years of command officer experience. Specific background includes: • Considerable knowledge of modern principles, practices and techniques of Fire Department Administration. • Knowledge of the various types of apparatus and equipment used by the department as well as maintenance requirements. • Experience in budget development, monitoring and financial management. • Strong background in team building, training and development. • Supervisory experience at a command level. • Experience in the strategic planning process. • Experience in advising on the management of pension plans. • Experience in staff recruitment and retention. • An EMT or paramedic background is desirable. • Effective oral and written communication skills. • Ability to interpret and enforce fire codes. • Ability to review building plans related to fire codes. • Experience with researching and writing grant requests. • Familiar with appropriate fire software, e.g., “Fire House”. Management Capabilities • Possess strong collaboration and conflict resolution skills and the ability to diffuse political differences. Build trusting relationships. • Play a coach/teacher role and take time to develop staff and staff leadership. • Listen carefully and completely. • Maintain a good sense of humor. • Develop relationships with elected officials and staff in all contract cities. • Keep lines of communications open with city management and command staff. • Understand the importance of developing processes and policies. • Bring a sense of commitment and enthusiasm to the position. • Gather input from the department staff when preparing plans and making decisions. • Willing to work with other city departments both in Long Lake and the contract cities and participate in staff meetings and activities on a regular basis. Position and Department Priorities • Take the necessary time to learn all Department jobs and meet with Department personnel and get to know their strengths. • Establish an organizational structure with clear responsibilities and chain-of-command. Develop a strong leadership team. • Work on clarifying and improving policies and procedures with attention to operating protocol. Apply rules and regulations evenly and fairly. • Develop accountability for fire operations, including Standard Operation Procedures and other pertinent policies. • Review needs and equipment and develop a long term Capital Improvement Plan. Periodically assess the frequency of use of the current equipment. • Explore options for developing an in-house training program that can be individualized, based on requirements. • Strive to blend and connect operations and staff in Station 1 and Station 2 to a more cohesive working unit. • Develop a process for cross-training of all personnel that capitalizes on individual strengths and results in job enrichment. • Implement a system of criteria and standards for the development of staff and for the selection of staff for promotional opportunities. • Develop and maintain a viable program to recruit and maintain an adequate staffing level. • Examine feasibility of the development of a Fire District with neighboring cities. Announcement Fire Chief; City of Long Lake, MN (pop. 1,829) New position. Salary mid $70s to mid $80s. Position leads a department of the City of Long Lake serving the Cities of Long Lake (100%), Orono (94%) and Medina, MN (12%). The Fire Chief will report to the City Administrator and be responsible for the planning, direction and administration of the Department. Current staff consists of the Chief, one Assistant Chief, one Captain, and four Lieutenants. A total of 44 paid on-call firefighters are located in two stations. Qualified candidates for the Fire Chief position will possess AA or BA Degree, have completed Firefighter I, II and III training, or the equivalent Fire Department, State and NFPA training, and have a minimum of five years experience as an active firefighter with three years of command officer experience. Position Profile available. Apply by 11/26/07 to The Brimeyer Group Executive Search; Fifty South Ninth Ave., Suite 101, Hopkins, MN 55343. Phone: (952) 945-0246 Fax: (952) 945-0102 e-mail: brimgroup@aol.com web: www.brimgroup.com Please visit: www.ci.long-lake.mn.us and www.ci.orono.mn.us Timetable 11/26/07 Deadline for Application 12/18/07 Present Candidates/Select Finalists Week of 1/20/08 Interviews/Selection February 2008 Starting Date |
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