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Townsend City Council Update
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter

Townsend City Council Update

Rachael Brug

Staff Reporter

The Townsend City Council on April 7 voted to separate two long-running fire-related agreements with the Townsend Rural Fire District, approved moving forward with a lease for Massa Park, and signed off on a short-term repair approach for the city’s aging Well #1.

Mayor Vickie Rauser called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council members Angie Wintrow, Nate Brown, Vivian Boaz, J.B. Howick and Peter Simon were present.

Fire agreements split for clarity:

Council members and representatives of the rural fire district agreed to untangle two documents that have been discussed together: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on fire station facilities and property, and a separate mutual aid agreement focused on emergency response.

Council members said the MOU addresses shared building use, maintenance and ownership of Lots 17–19, while the mutual aid agreement outlines inter-jurisdictional cooperation during emergencies. During discussion, concerns were raised that mandatory language in the mutual aid agreement could be interpreted to require responders to leave an active emergency to answer another call, potentially creating safety risks and liability.

Council members also emphasized that “responsibility follows the apparatus,” meaning firefighters respond under the jurisdiction of the entity operating the vehicle they are on.

As part of MOU revisions, council members discussed property ownership: the City of Townsend owns Lot 17, and Lots 18–19 are jointly owned, with 50% owned by the city and 50% owned by the rural fire district. Council recommended verifying the ownership details through deeds at the courthouse.

Mayor Rauser was authorized to finalize the building-focused MOU with the mutual aid language removed. Council members said the mutual aid agreement will be handled separately by the Fire Committee, with a focus on flexible response protocols during simultaneous emergencies, clear liability assignments and command coordination.

Council member J.B. Howick said the city and rural department have informally shared costs and leadership for years, which has blurred operational lines. City fire volunteers Shawn Simon and Nichole Simon are working on clarifying responsibilities for billing, council members said.

Massa Park lease and letter to the family:

The council approved the lease agreement for Massa Park and also voted unanimously to send a letter to the Massa family regarding a request from Lakeside Distillery owner Jake Balliew, who has expressed interest in purchasing the property to expand his business.

Council members said the Massa family’s internal consensus remains unresolved and the family has indicated it prefers leasing the property to the city rather than selling. They also noted that a neighboring property owner has declined multiple offers from Balliew.

The council directed that the letter express support for the distillery’s expansion and invite the family to reconsider a sale, while also stating that the city has no plans to purchase the property. Council members discussed the need to word the letter carefully to avoid the perception of pressure and to acknowledge the family’s rights and historical connection.

Parking concerns raised by distillery owner:

During public comment, Balliew told council members that vehicles have been blocking access to his distillery’s roll-up doors, particularly the door by the alley, and said an abandoned vehicle recently remained in place for several days. He asked the city to consider an ordinance limiting parking to 24–48 hours during business hours, suggesting a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. window.

Mayor Rauser said the issue was not on the agenda and will be placed on the April 15 meeting agenda.

Water system update: Well #1:

Rauser said the city is dealing with issues at Well #1, which she said is 66 years old and has a casing hole that increases contamination risk. Council members reviewed three options: drilling a new well estimated at $3 million; replacing the well screen for about $20,000 but with higher contamination risk; or installing a blind flange to modify the current pump for about $5,000.

The council unanimously approved the blind flange option, with annual maintenance and inspections every two to three years. Rauser said the approach was recommended by engineers at Robert Peccia & Associates (RPA) as a way to address the immediate issue while planning for a new well in five to 10 years.

Other business included an update that the city’s wage and salary matrix work is in progress, telecommunications review materials were distributed by the city attorney, and a committee of Simon, Boaz and Wintrow was formed to review the draft animal control ordinance for undefined terms and inconsistent language.

In roundtable updates, city fire volunteers said new recruits are nearing certification pending council approval, and the department is pursuing a FEMA grant of $360,000 for turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Public Works staff reported McCarthy Park’s playground is nearing completion, pool covers have been received, and the sewer lagoon blower unit replacement has been more costly than expected.

The meeting adjourned on a unanimous vote.