Hartley emergency agencies provide annual updates

Local emergency personnel on Monday updated the Hartley City Council about their 2024 activities and shared goals for the future.

The Hartley Emergency Ambulance Rescue Team (HEART) responded to 280 calls in 2024, down slightly from 289 in 2023. The team is comprised of 16 volunteer members who tallied 21,507 on-call hours last year, according to HEART Secretary/Treasurer Darla Meyer.

"It's a good amount of people, thank goodness," she said.

HEART was able to purchase a new $47,000 defibrillator monitor last year. The acquisition was made possible by local donations, a contribution from the city and a grant from the O'Brien County Community Foundation.

"You guys always have our backs, and we appreciate that," Meyer said. "There are some teams that don't have that support."

Additionally, HEART last year used a $25,000 allocation from the O'Brien County Board of Supervisors to pay an on-call wage to team members. For each hour an individual was on call, they were paid $1.

Meyer explained the amount may not seem like much, but it's paid out only twice during the year – once in June and once in November. The biannual schedule allows volunteers to accrue a decent amount of hours before each payment.

"That way they have some summer money and some Christmas money," she said.

Meyer reported the team would receive $31,500 from the county in 2025, which will again go to on-call wages.

"Nowadays you've got to have some kind of incentive to get people to do what you do," said Council Member Mary Westphalen.

HEART's future plans include purchasing a new ambulance in roughly five years and expanding their current building westward. The expansion, which was first proposed in 2022, would be built where the current parking lot is situated.

Meyer said the project would provide enough room to house a primary ambulance and spare in addition to creating more space for training activities.

"With 16 members we can sit there and watch a video, but if we want to do any kind of training, there's no room," she explained.

Following Meyer's report, Assistant Fire Chief Larry Espey provided an outline of the fire department's activities in 2024. The squad responded to 48 calls last year, up from 33 in 2023.

The department was able to buy new boots and gloves as well as upgrade its cascade air system and compressor. Additionally, a 2022 Dodge 3500 4x4 brush truck was purchased for $63,173 with grant and fundraising money. Espey noted that if it was bought brand new, the vehicle would have cost between $150,000-$175,000.

"We are doing quite well," Espey said. "We thank the city for the support. Like the ambulance, when we need something we can count on it being there."

The assistant chief was also grateful for monetary support from local residents year after year.

"This city is blessed with people who donate to the fire department probably more than any other community around, and we appreciate it," he said. "I think part of that is they can see what we're doing with the money, because we try to spend that money wisely and reinvest everything right back into the department."

Finally, Police Chief Joe Hengeveld updated the council about the need for a new cruiser to replace its older Ford Interceptor. Due to limited availability locally and statewide, Hengeveld suggested the city purchase a 2025 Ford Interceptor for $49,900 from Stivers Ford in Waukee. The council approved the purchase as well as a bid for equipment installation on the new vehicle worth $18,951.68.

Hengeveld said the department would keep the older Ford in service instead of trading it in. Officers will utilize it until it starts having maintenance issues rather than immediately putting miles on the new vehicle.

• Other business

The council tabled two bids from 300 Acres, LLC, and Jimmy Jay's Productions regarding new street banners. The current banners on light poles along the highway and downtown are reportedly deteriorating and need to be replaced.

300 Acres' bid was $3,770.80 while Jimmy Jay's Productions' bid was $6,450. The council tabled the item pending further information about mounting hardware and other details.

Westphalen expressed a desire to have larger banners than the ones currently lining local streets.

"When I looked at other towns, ours are extremely small," she said.

Other standard New Year business included annual appointments.

Roxann Swanson was appointed city clerk/administrator, Sheri Tewes was appointed deputy city clerk and city treasurer, Joe Hengeveld was appointed police chief, and Phil Sweeney was appointed zoning officer.

The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News was named official city newspaper, and Savings Bank and United Community Bank were named the official city depositories. Brandon Krikke was appointed city attorney with Nathan Rockman as assistant city attorney.