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Published April 05, 2012, 10:07 AM

City Council appoints interim St. Croix EMS chief

Kim Eby was appointed interim chief of St. Croix Emergency Medical Services by the Hudson City Council at its March 26 meeting. Eby, a seven-year veteran of the ambulance service, will replace Eric Christensen.

By: Randy Hanson, Hudson Star-Observer

Kim Eby was appointed interim chief of St. Croix Emergency Medical Services by the Hudson City Council at its March 26 meeting.

Eby, a seven-year veteran of the ambulance service, will replace Eric Christensen when he leaves at the end of next week to take over as emergency services director for Door County.

“I think Kim would be a very strong choice” to lead St. Croix EMS on an interim basis, Christensen told the City Council in recommending her for the position.

Eby was a paramedic captain for the service until her recent appointment. She joined St. Croix EMS in January 2005.

Until August 2011, she also worked as a paramedic for Allina Medical Transportation. Prior to that, she was an emergency medical technician for Lifelink III.

The City Council also approved beginning the recruitment process for a permanent EMS director and an updated job description for the position.

In addition to heading up the ambulance service, the director will serve as the city’s emergency management coordinator.

The recruitment schedule calls for the EMS Commission to review applications and schedule interviews for candidates during the first week of June.

Mutual aid system

The Hudson Fire Department’s participation in a statewide mutual aid system also was approved by the City Council.

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System is used for deploying fire, rescue and emergency medical service personnel for large-scale incidents that no one department could handle on its own, Fire Chief Jim Frye explained. He named major fires, floods, tornadoes, hazardous-material spills and terrorist attacks as incidents for which aid might be provided.

Frye said MABAS was established on the principle of neighbor helping neighbor, and that equipment, personnel or services would be provided at no charge between the municipalities. The agreement doesn’t replace the mutual aid agreements the Hudson department already has with surrounding fire departments, include four in Minnesota, he said.

Frye cited the huge warehouse fire in North Hudson a few years ago as an incident for which mutual aid could have been sought through MABAS.

Other action

In other action, the City Council:

  • Returned to the Public Works Committee a proposal to install two sets of metal stairways to the water’s edge along the south side the dike road. The stairways would provide access to the dinghies that sailboat owners use to reach their boats moored along the dike. Public Works Committee chairperson Lori Bernard said it was believed there might be a better design for the stairways that would cost less. The city received one $50,256 bid on the installation of the stairways last August. Bernard said the committee discussed starting by putting in one stairway at a price of $23,478.

  • Denied a claim for excessive taxation from USA Karate, 916 Carmichael Road. Mayor Alan Burchill said the city’s Board of Review would hear the business’ complaint at its spring meeting.

  • Approved the request for yield signs to be placed on Myrtle Street at Eighth Street. The effectiveness of the signs will be reviewed after they are in place for 60 days.

  • Amended the liquor license for Fiesta Loca, 131 Carmichael Road, to allow the restaurant to serve alcoholic beverages on an outdoor patio.

  • Approved a Raise the Woof Animal Friends Dog Walk to be held June 16 in Lakefront Park.

  • Approved a walk to raise funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis planned for May 6, starting and ending at Hudson Middle School.

  • Approved the Monica Jensen Foundation footrace on June 2. The race will begin at Hudson High School and end at Lakefront Park.

  • Approved the Les Berg Memorial 5K run and walk set for May 9. The 6 p.m. event will start and end at Lakefront Park.

  • Approved four footraces that the Bodyzone fitness center will host in St. Croix Business Park. They are scheduled for April 15, May 6, June 3 and June 24.

  • Approved the Willow River Super Fun Walk and Run beginning and ending at Willow River Elementary School on April 28.

  • Approved a Steenburg 5K walk and run benefit to be held May 5 in Lakefront Park.

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