Koochiching County commissioners Tuesday tabled action on selecting a provider for rural fire protection, saying additional time is needed to consider the decision.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck voted against tabling the decision. Pavleck indicated he prefers allowing the Rural Fire Protection Association to make the decision about whether to provide fire protection on its own through development of a fire department or to contract with the city of International Falls on the service.

Commissioner Chuck Lepper made the motion to table the decision contingent on the International Falls City Council approving an extension of the current contract by at least six months.

“There are too many unanswered questions” to make a decision now, Lepper said in making the motion. “The decision is too important.”

The potential for a decision brought about 50 people to the boardroom Tuesday, with some advocating retention of service from the city and others pushing for contracting with a new department being created by RFPA.

Lepper urged city officials and RFPA Board members to meet to discuss the issues involved.

The current contracts between the county and city, and the county and RFPA, set collection at $148,000. RFPA provides billing services, representation and rural fire equipment, and retains $50,000. The city receives $100,000 and provides equipment and houses RFPA equipment. Rural customers pay $70 per year and unpaid bills are collected under a subordinate service taxing district established by the county in 2008.

The contracts for fire protection end Dec. 31. The area served by RFPA covers the area of the Falls school district minus International Falls.

The city has offered to provide fire protection for $125,000 per year for up to six years with no cost-of-living increase clause. RFPA would retain ownership of its equipment and the city would provide routine maintenance.

RFPA has proposed to develop its own fire department and estimates annual operating costs at $87,900, with a 10 percent contingency. RFPA officials say they are confident the department can operate annually at just less than $90,000 each year, allowing costs to RFPA customers to remain at the current rate of $70 per year. One-time, start-up costs are estimated at about $125,000.

After the motion to table the decision passed, Pavleck joked that the board was experiencing “paralysis by analysis.”

Meanwhile, Lepper suggested the board invite RFPA Board members and city officials to a committee meeting in an attempt to reach a conclusion amenable to all parties. “It’s that important,” he said of continuing negotiations. “We need to try.”

That time, he said, would allow residents — in and out of the city — to discuss with their agents how insurance rates might be affected by creation of a second department.

“This whole thing is not about money, it’s about trusting people,” he said. “We have to get past that and do what’s best for the people.”

And while Lepper said he understood the issues that have motivated the RFPA to create its own department, “You’ll never convince me that two departments are cheaper than one. We need to hear from our constituents.”

Lepper said a meeting held by the RFPA Board last week should have been conducted before the board voted to create its own fire department. He again urged the board to consider polling its customers on their views.

“I am not so much against rural going on their own, but I am against going on their own without their constituents knowing all the facts and costs. This is big enough that every member should have a voice,” Lepper said.

But Pavleck said the community deserves a decision on an issue that has created conflict for several months and even years.

Rural residents would do best by gaining more independence from International Falls because they have no control or representation in issues decided by the city council, said Pavleck

Commissioner Brian McBride agreed that the main factor — fire protection — has been clouded over in recent years.

“We’ve got to get away from the personalities and half truths,” he said.

McBride agreed that the city’s price for contracts has varied, and noted that some people have pointed to the changes as evidence city officials can’t be trusted.

But McBride said the RFPA Board’s price of $100,000 has not changed. He pointed to that lack of movement as “not negotiating.”

The city’s suggestion Monday of exploring through a joint county-city feasibility study the creation of an emergency management district that would cover fire, ambulance and law enforcement services was supported by some people.

RFPA Board spokesman Randy Pozniak said he believed the idea had merit — if the district would be governed by an independent board of people elected by property owners.

Several audience members called for a vote of RFPA customers.

Harold Scholler said he owned a small business about five miles outside the city. His agent guaranteed his insurance costs would rise if a second department were created. A vote of the customers would provide the RFPA Board with direction, he said.

And some people questioned the city’s fire department budget, and others questioned the timing of the RFPA’s meeting.

Bob Ewald suggested the RFPA establish its department east of Ranier and contract with the city for fire protection in other areas now served by RFPA. The idea would keep from duplication of services, keep the costs of a city contract down and provide quicker response time to lake-area residents.