HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 05-10 Study is wrong, city council says THE DISPATCH /1-4910,/91'2
Study is wrong,
city council says
By SCOTT CARLSON Wiegert, responded, "How this
Staff Writer last statement could be made. . .
is unbelievable.It is unfortunate
A "colossal gaffe" in an inde- that the primary source of subur-
pendent consultant's study for St. ban information appears to be un-
Paul merits apologies to three fire published information from the
departments. state auditor's office and 1975 an-
nual reports from each city.
"A few minutes of someone's
Maplewood part to check the statements re-
garding 3M fire protection would
THAT IS THE opinion of the have prevented this colossal
Maplewood City Council, which gaffe,"Maplewood stated."A re-
recently took issue with James cod of this intended caliber by a
McComb's statement that St.Paul consultant firm presumablyoof
provides fire protection to the 3M some stature mpuld not make the
Company complex because kind of assumption perpetrated
Maplewood volunteer depart-
ments
here.
can't do an adequate job. "APOLOGIES are due to the
McComb's report, which corn- East County Line Fire Depart-
pares St. Paul and Minneapolis ment,the Gladstone Fire Depart-
with 18 suburbs to show that the ment, the Parkside Fire Depart-
central cities have reached a criti- ment and the city of Maplewood,
cal property tax situation, also whoses forces are invariably at
stated: "These communities are the 3M complex in response to a
able to enjoy the benefits of the fire call with as much and as
industrial tax base without having large equipment as the St. Paul
to incur the cost of a fire depart- responders,"Maplewood added.
ment that can protect the build- But McComb, in an interview
ings." with the Dispatch, said, "I think
MAPLEWOOD, in comments this has been blown out of propor-
drafted by Councilman Donald See Study,Page 6(E)
r —
Consultant: Report
is misunderstood
0... Unfortunate misunderstandings regional parks,used by many sub-
have surrounded the publication urban residents.
Cas of a report which compares the "People in the suburbs don't re-
property.tax plight of St.Paul and ally understand how the cities
Minneapolis with 18 suburban work and vice versa,"he conclud-
41 ed.
That is the opinion of the inde-
pendent consultant, James
McComb,ci who did the l cent McComb's
t u d y
for the city of St.Paul.McComb's
report recently came under at-
tack from the Maplewood City
Council. Continued from Page 1
Maplewood was upset that tion. I wasn't criticizing their
McComb allegedly mischarac- (Maplewood's)fire department."
terized the city's fire agreement However, McComb noted that
with St.Paul to provide service to 3M contracts for St.Paul fire pro-
the 3M Company complex at I-94 tection through Maplewood in the, ',
and McKnight Road. amount of about$25,000 a year.
McCOMB'S REPORT stated The reason for this is that 3M is
that the St.Paul fire department able to get lower rates on its fire .
provides fire protection to the 3M insurance,McComb added.
headquarters in Maplewood be-
cause volunteer fire departments WHETHER Maplewood can
"are unable to provide the provide adequate fire service,
level of fire protection required." McComb noted,should be gauged
And Maplewood, in comments by 3M actions."The actions speak
drafted by Councilman Donald for themselves,"McComb said.
Wiegert,said that that was a"co- But he agreed that this should
lossal gaffe." not be a reflection on the ability of
The council contended that the individual volunteers.
Maplewood arrives with as much "If I had known it(the report)
and as large equipment as St. would be controversial I would
Paul.And the council added that have gone into more detail," he
aplogies were due to its three fire said. But he added that might
departments. have required an 800-page report
But McComb, who pointed out instead of one about 200 pages.
he did not intend to degrade the "The resources weren't avail-
Maplewood volunteer forces,said able to do that kind of
the conflict was the result of some writing,"McComb said.
misunderstandings. And he added the statement on
"I can understand their view- the fire service is"really insignif i-
point and sympathize with them," cant to the overall report.I don't
McComb said of Maplewood's crit- feel it's a colossal gaffe but they
icism that the report could have are entitled to their opinion."
been more detailed.But he added
that he did not have the resources _
needed to note all the exceptions
to general statements in the
report.
And McComb added the report
was intended to"get people work-
ing together, not push them far-
ther apart." ,
McComb contended that the
case of"central cities subsidizing
suburban communities goes on in
subtle ways." For example, he
noted, that in many suburban
communities user fees are
cnarged on parks while St.Paul
and Minneapolis have developed