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Firefighter Relief Association
The Eden Prairie Firefighter Relief Association is a nonprofit corporation that exists to provide a retirement incentive for Eden Prairie Fire Department Duty Crew firefighters.
Relief Associations are considered governmental entities. Therefore, they have similar rights, duties and responsibilities as other governmental entities, such as a city. As a governmental entity, the Relief Association manages the retirement money for the firefighter, so that he or she has a good retirement benefit. The hope is that this will allow cities to recruit and retain well-trained, experienced people to provide fire suppression services to the community.
Who Can Join the Relief Association?
All Eden Prairie firefighters must be offered membership in the Association. Membership is voluntary. But if you do not join, you will not receive a retirement benefit from the Relief Association. To join, you should fill out an application and submit it to the Board of Trustees. You should contact the Secretary of the Relief Association to get an application for membership. Once you join, you will remain a member unless you are suspended from the Fire Department or the Association.
Who Runs the Relief Association?
A Board of Trustees administers the Relief Association. There are nine Trustees. Six of the Trustees are elected from the membership at large of the Relief Association. One of the six elected members of the Board of Trustees may be a retired member, receiving a monthly service pension. Three of the Trustees serve on the board because the law requires them to. One is the Fire Chief and the others are municipal officials representing Eden Prairie. Each elected Trustee serves a term of three years. Two Trustees are elected at every annual meeting.
Is the Relief Association Part of the City?
No, the Relief Association is a separate nonprofit corporation. The City of Eden Prairie is called the "plan sponsor," in that they sponsor the pension plan by providing funding to it. Therefore, public officials sit on the board of Trustees. The public has an interest in seeing the retirement benefit offered to the firefighters is good enough to retain trained, experienced people.
Is the Relief Association Part of the Fire Department?
No, the Relief Association is a separate legal entity from the Fire Department. Its purpose is to provide benefits to Fire Department members. The Relief Association is governed by the Bylaws and Policies voted on by its members. The Eden Prairie Fire Department’s policies and procedures are determined by its own methods. The Fire Chief does sit on the Board of Trustees.