8.b)1) Accept Donation of Cold Water Survival Suit Meeting Date: 7/20/2010
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City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209`h St. North
Scandia, MN 55073 (651)433-2274
Action Requested: Accept a donation from Stan Ross and Lori Gordon for a Stearns cold
water survival suit to the Scandia Fire and Rescue Department.
Deadline/ Timeline: N/A
Background: • Scandia residents Stan Ross and Lori Gordon have recently
donated a Stearns cold water survival suit to the Scandia Fire and
Rescue Department.
• The Fire Department's dive team rope tenders use the suits during
cold water rescue and recovery operations.
• The department currently has four of the suits,but two of them
have developed leaks and were to be replaced within the next two
years. This donation will offset the purchase of at least one of the
suits.
• The survival suit is valued at $200.00.
• The City Council must accept all donations by resolution.
Recommendation: I recommend that the Council adopt the resolution accepting the
donation, and that a letter be sent thanking Stan Ross and Lori Gordon
for their generous contribution to the Fire and Rescue Department.
Attachments/ • Draft Resolution No. 07-20-10-01
Materials provided: . Newspaper article from the Country Messenger
Contact(s): Jim Finnegan, Fire Chief(651 433-2225)
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(donation FD Equipment survival suit)
Page 1 of 1
07/12/10
CITY OF SCANDIA
RESOLUTION NO. 07-20-10-01
ACCEPTING DONATION FROM STAN ROSS AND LORI GORDON
WHEREAS, Stan Ross and Lori Gordon have generously donated a Stearns cold water
survival suit,valued at $200.00, to the Scandia Fire and Rescue Department.
WHEREAS, the equipment is necessary for the dive team's cold water rescue and
recovery operations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA, that it should
accept the donation of Stan Ross and Lori Gordon for a Stearns cold water survival suit to the
Fire and Rescue Department.
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council extends its thanks to Stan Ross
and Lori Gordon, on behalf of all of the citizens of Scandia, for their generous donation to our
community.
Adopted by the Scandia City Council this 20th day of July, 2010.
Dennis D. Seefeldt, Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk/Administrator
`Gumby suit' has a history to tell - Country Messenger Page 1 of 2
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6/30/]0 �� SHRRE f'�;^i'_.'
`Gumby suit' has a history to tell
An ill-advised career for one man with Scandia connections has turned into a cost-saving
donation for the Scandia Fire&Rescue Department.
Stan Ross,whose significant other, Lori Gordon, lives in Scandia, recently donated a
Stearns-brand cold water survival suit to the fire department.
The fire department dive team's rope tenders use the suits during cold water rescue and
recovery operations.
At one time, Ross had ambitions of being an intercontinental pilot, delivering single-engine
planes to Europe by flying them across the Atlantic Ocean,taking a northern route over
Greenland and Iceland, stopping in St. John's, Newfoundland,Canada, and Shannon,
Ireland,for fuel,food and rest.
Ross, a pilot for 25 years, made one such journey in October 2001.
Image courtesy The occupation involves a considerable amount of risk,and pilots must wear the survival
Westmarine.com suits in the event of an emergency water landing.
Stan Ross recently
donated a Stearns cold ��I do not recommend it as a good career path for people to do,"Ross said.
water"Gumby"survival Wearing the suit during the flight was an absolute must, because there isn't room inside the
suit, similar to the one
shown above, io the plane for a pilot to wiggle into one. An auxiliary fuel tank, necessarily installed in the plane's
Scandia firc department. back seat,takes up most of the wiggle room.
The suits,which are nicknamed"Gumby suits"because of the large amounts of foam rubber in them,are designed to
be watertight.They help stave off hypothermia and keep a person up to 350 pounds alive and afloat until rescuers
can find them and get them out of the water.
"You literally look like a big orange Gumby,"Ross said.
While effective,the suits are anything but comfortable, Ross said.
"It is an interesting garment,"Ross said."Within eight to 10 minutes you're perspiring and within 30 minutes you're
completely soaked."
Ross said wearing the suit for a 10-to 12-hour flight was not pleasant.
After delivering his Beechcraft Bonanza plane to Holland, Ross said he hung up his survival suit for good. KLM Airlines
bought him a trip back to St. Paul,which he graciously accepted.
With a one-way ticket,a GPS unit and a survival suit as carry-ons, Ross said he got a lot of attention from the post-
Sept. 11, 2001, airline security.
"They took security very very seriously,"he said.
Since he decided against rnntinuing as a plane-deliverer, Ross's survival suit wasn't getting much use at home in his
closet.
"The thing needs a home,"he said. "It should be put to use."
Ross said the suit might save someone's life someday,though he hopes that no firefighter would end up at such risk.
"I'm glad iYll find a good home and be put to good use,"Ross said.
Scandia Fire Chief)im Finnegan said the department currently has four of the suits.Two of them have developed
leaks and were to be replaced within the ne�two years.
Ross's suit will offset the purchase of at least one of the suits, which sell for about$450 retail.
http://countrymessenger.com/detail/5983 8.htm1?sub_id=59838&print=l 7/1/2010
`Gumby suit' has a history to tell - Country Messenger Page 2 of 2
"That money can be used wisely elsewhere now,"Finnegan said.
Finnegan said having money and equipment donated to the fire department is essential to the department
maintaining a high level of service.
"IYs great to have the community support behind the department,"Finnegan said.
http://countrymessenger.com/detail/59838.html?sub_id=59838&print=l 7/1/2010