1973

In 1973, the Relief Association was formed, enabling the Department to establish a retirement fund for the members. This money comes from 2 percent of the insurance premiums in the area served, as well as annual contributions from the City. In the beginning the men agreed to a 50 percent reduction in their wages, which by this time were set at $2 per hour, so that the Department itself could also add money to this fund. At the present time, whenever a member retires, he receives a certain amount of money for each year of service, depending on how much money is in the fund at the time.

1974

In September of 1974, the Department celebrated its 25th Anniversary with an open house at the Fire Hall, with all their equipment on display. Also on display at this event was the original Model AA Ford truck, which had been sold in 1958. It was found by member, Jim Vouk in the Village of Trommald, near Crosby, MN, and he was able to acquire it and bring it back that month in time for the anniversary celebration.

Upon the death of the original Chief, Joe Trobec, in October of 1974, his son, Ray Trobec was elected Chief, who remains in this office to this day. Dick Silbernick was elected Assistant Chief.

1975

In 1975, a John Bean 1,250-gallon tanker on a Ford F750 chassis was purchased, giving the Department greater water-handling capacity, Shortly thereafter, the 1947 Chevrolet 1100-gallon tanker was sold at auction to Bill Vouk. It was about this time the Department reached agreements with two area farmers, Jerome Kowitz of rural St. Stephen-St. Joseph and Bernard Huls of rural St. Wendel granting access to their irrigation wells for filling the tanker trucks. This proved to be a valuable asset in water supply on several occasions.

Also, in 1975, the St. Stephen Department because the first in Stearns County to install a pager system for calling the members, making the siren method obsolete. The new base stations for this system was donated by the family of the original Chief, Joe Trobec, in his memory. It was installed in the office of Trobec's bar, replacing the Bus Service base station, which was removed to the Bus Company Garage. Many times the bartenders or the Chief's wife had to serve as dispatcher to activate the pagers.

In order to finance the purchase of the pagers, each member contributed $100. This money was eventually returned to the members many years later. Since 1989, the pagers are activated by the County Sheriff's Department dispatcher on the 911 system.

1979

In 1979, Roger Trobec, Gerald Ross and Richard Silbernick became the first Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on the department, and with more intensive first-aid training, such as the First-Responder course, for the rest of the members, the Department became a qualified rescue squad. Today this Rescue Squad is recognized by the Sheriff's Department and the Ambulance Company as one the best in the area.

1980

600.jpg (59248 bytes) In 1980, a new 1,000-gallon-per-minute pumper, on a Ford 800 chassis, was purchased from General Fire Equipment, again increasing the efficiency and extinguishment capability of the Department. At this time, the Military International pumper, affectionately referred to as "The Binder", was retired and sold to a fire equipment collector.