Rosemount Residents Encouraged to Dial 911 in Non-Emergency Situations

A new countywide campaign seeks to change the idea that dialing 911 is only acceptable in emergency situations.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Join the Conversation Rosemount emergency responders want residents to dial 911 more often. Late last week, the Rosemount Police and Fire Departments and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office announced they were joining in a countywide "911 for All" campaign that encourages local residents to contact public safety agencies in the communities in both emergency and non-emergency situations. As part of the campaign, public safety officials are asking residents to dial 911 not just in an emergency, but also to provide information or request non-emergency service. Situations in which it is acceptable to dial 911 include: “Most of us were taught to only call 911 in an emergency, but, thanks to …

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Rosemount Council Appoints Schroeder to Replace Outgoing Fire Chief

Rosemount Fire Department Captain Richard Schroeder was selected on Tuesday night to lead the city's fire department.

It's official: Rosemount Fire Department Captain Richard Schroeder will replace outgoing Fire Chief Scott Aker as head of the city's fire department. The Rosemount City Council voted on Tuesday night to appoint Schroeder as the new chief. The council also commended Aker, who served with the department for 31 years and as the city's fire chief for a quarter-century. "Scott has seen both fire houses built,” Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste said during the council meeting. "Since Scott retired five years ago as a teacher, he’s been on 90 percent of fire calls." Schroeder was selected as a finalist from a pool of four candidates, who were all interviewed in February by a six-person panel of Rosemount firefighters, city staff and regional public …

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After 25 Years, Rosemount Fire Chief Will Retire This Spring

Scott Aker was largely responsible for overseeing a significant expansion in the Rosemount Fire Department

Scott Aker will close the book on roughly a quarter-century of service when he retires from his role as the Rosemount Fire Chief this spring. On Tuesday, the Rosemount City Council is expected to vote whether to appoint Rosemount Fire Department Captain Richard Schroeder as Aker's replacement. Schroeder was selected as a finalist from a pool of four candidates, who were all interviewed in February by a six-person panel of Rosemount firefighters, city staff and regional public safety officials. Schroeder, who has served in the Rosemount Fire Department for 15 years, also owns a private business with six employees. His management experience, multi-faceted public safety background and history with the Rosemount Fire Department were all …

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Rosemount Firefighters Get a Pay Raise

Firefighters compensation will go from $6 per call to $10 per call under a plan approved by the Rosemount City Council.

Rosemount's paid, on-call firefighters are getting a raise from $6 per call to $10 per call, thanks to the Rosemount City Council's decision on March 19 to implement a pay hike in 2013. The council has been reviewing firefighers' pay for nearly two years, with the goal of eventually recruiting 50 paid, on-call firefighters to the city, according to a memo prepared by Rosemount City Administrator Dwight Johnson. Despite their efforts, city staff have never been able to attain that goal, in part because overall firefighter compensation in Rosemount lags compared to other cities surveyed. Stipends for Rosemount Fire Department officers has not been increased since 2006, and the city has one of the lowest cost fire departments in Minnesota on …

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Fire Departments Plan Open Houses to Observe Fire Prevention Week

Apple Valley will have three open houses this week, while Rosemount has its annual open house scheduled for Oct. 14.

Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Follow us on Twitter | Start a blog The Apple Valley and Rosemount fire departments have planned open houses to commemorate Fire Prevention Week, which is this week. APPLE VALLEY The Apple Valley Fire Department have scheduled the following open houses: • 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Fire Station 1, 15000 Hayes Road. • 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Fire Station 2, 13995 Galaxie Ave. • 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at Fire Station 3, 14195 Essex Ave. The open house will feature equipment displays and children’s activities. Firefighters will be on hand to answer questions and meet children. Click here to go to the Apple Valley Fire Department’s website. ROSEMOUNT The Rosemount Fire …

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UPDATE: At Least One Person Hurt in Wednesday Evening Crash

Police were continuing the investigation into what caused a two-vehicle crash at the junction of Highway 52 and County Road 42 in Rosemount.

Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Follow us on Twitter | Start a blog UPDATE: 11:50 A.M. THURSDAY—At least one person was injured in Wednesday evening's crash at the junction of Highway 52 and County Road 42. A Rosemount Police spokesperson said Thursday morning said the driver of one of the vehicles involved was taken to the hospital. No other information about the injured person was available. Rosemount Police were called to the crash, near the bottom of exit ramp from southbound Highway 52, at about 6:20 p.m. The cause of the crash remained under investigation Thursday morning, the police spokesperson said. _____________________________ Police were investigating a two-vehicle crash at the junction of Highway 52 and County Road …

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UPDATE: Apple Valley Fire Remains Under Investigation

Firefighters were on the scene of Friday’s structure fire on 139th Street West for more than four hours.

The cause of Friday afternoon’s fire on 139th Street West in Apple Valley remains under investigation. Scott Mattingly, Apple Valley’s assistant fire chief, said Saturday morning that investigators still had not pinpointed what ignited the fire. They believe it started in the garage of wood-frame structure. “It doesn’t appear to be anything suspicious at this time,” he said. Also yet to determined is whether the structure is a total loss. Mattingly estimated damage to be at least $100,000. The family that resides in the home was displaced, he said. Family members stayed with relatives Friday night. Fire crews were called to the scene of the fire, at 5961 139th St. W.—just north of the intersection of 140th Street West and Johnny Cake Ridge…

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At Least 1 Injured in Head-On Crash

Emergency personnel responded to a three-car accident on South Robert Trail on Thursday.

Rosemount Fire Assists with Shed Blaze

A fire in a shed on Mississippi Trail just east of Rosemount prompted a response from the Rosemount Fire Department.

The Rosemount Fire Departement responded to a shed fire just off Highway 55 on Mississippi Trail on Monday. A tanker truck was dispatched to assist Hastings fire personnel with the blaze. A unit from Miesville also responded. The call for assistance came shortly after 9 a.m. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the blaze to the shed and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures which included a nearby shed and a home on the property. According to firefighters on the scene, there were no injuries and a cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

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Rosemount Names Public Safety Employees of the Year

Police officer, fireman receive awards at American Legion Post ceremony.

Editor's note: Information from a news release from the City of Rosemount. Rosemount police officer Jason Waage and firefighter Tom Bigalk have been named the city’s public safety employees of the year.  The awards were announced last weekend during an observance at the Rosemount American Legion Post. Officer Waage was praised for his overall work ethic and dedication to law enforcement.  He performs in traffic enforcement at a high level and is quick to respond to calls for service of any kind. He was assigned last year to serve on the county’s joint tactical (or “SWAT”) team in addition to standard patrol duties, requiring additional monthly training and stand-by readiness in case of a crisis situation. Office Waage joined the Rosemount …

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