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Northrop stuck with bill for fire

NORTHROP — $248,000 is the daunting cost faced by the city of Northrop in the aftermath of a grain elevator explosion and subsequent fire earlier this year.

Fifty-nine fire departments from all over southern Minnesota responded to the explosion, and put in a whopping 60 hours in frigid temperatures to battle the blaze.

The State Fire Marshal’s office was unable to fully determine the cause of the explosion, but has ruled it accidental.

Northrop Mayor Tom Wakey shared the breakdown of the cost to the city.

“Our fire bill is $114,000; Beemer’s knock-down bill is $118,000, and our bill includes a $16,000 diesel fuel bill,” Wakey said. “I have had (state Sen.) Julie Rosen and (state Rep.) Bob Gunther at three of our meetings and nobody can believe the insurance company said the Fire Marshal couldn’t come up with a cause so they aren’t going to pay anything. They aren’t going to pay our bill and they aren’t going to pay any cost to (elevator owner) LB Pork.”

“The fire department coverage will not cover the full amount,” said Dianne Bettin, human resources and office manager at LB Pork. “I don’t have the fire bill because that all goes to the city of Northrop.”

Wakey is also saddened that eight Northrop residents had homes damaged during the unfortunate event.

He also noted that the City Council is not happy about the situation, and is frustrated by the lack of help.

“I have eight people’s homes that were damaged and those poor people had to use their own insurance and had to pay their own deductible. They’re angry, and so is the City Council for getting stuck with these bills.”

When asked about the next step, Wakey said, “I do not have a clue.”

“Bob [Gunther] said he’s going to work really hard to get some money, and Julie Rosen is on the Appropriations Committee,” he said. “Bob talked about Madelia and how [the state] helped them, but there were 14 individual businesses and property owners involved, whereas here it’s just one. I did have some nice conversation with Governor Mark Dayton’s secretary, but that’s all the farther I got.”

Wakey also said he was questioned at one point about the fuel bill, and it was suggested to him that the city get a loan. However, he says that solution presents its own challenges.

“I said we’re paying on a $1.6 million loan right now for our sewer project, and that took me five years to get a loan,” he said. “It took two years to get a loan to fix the water tower and I just got that and they’re supposed to be coming this month or next month to work on that for $340,000. So the citizens of Northrop are maxed out as far as paying for loans.”

In spite of all the cost-related frustrations, Wakey said the city is grateful for all that was done by volunteers and firefighters alike.

“We were overwhelmed by people bringing food,” he said. “That new Mexican restaurant that just got done in Madelia, on two different mornings they brought down 80 breakfast burritos. The Eagles Club brought up 100 and some hamburger and French fry suppers and there’s just a good five-page list of people that donated stuff.

“It was such a long 60 hours in harsh conditions, and pumps and hoses were freezing up. The State Fire Marshal was mainly in charge with my fire chief, and they made the decision to rotate. Fairmont’s fire chief, Mr. [Brandon] Scott, was almost in tears when they told him to take his crew and go home and rest, cause that’s how dedicated they are.

“All we had to do was call and the fire departments were here. It was a miracle, but that’s what firefighters do.”

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