Even though there was no emergency at City Hall on Monday evening, almost a dozen Tracy firefighters and emergency personnel were on hand for this week’s Tracy City Council meeting. They weren’t there to talk about budgets and bottom lines though.
This group of Tracy heroes was present for one reason, and that reason goes by the name Trent Fischer, a Tracy resident who two weeks ago had his life in their hands.
And Fischer was there, as well to publicly extend his gratitude toward the people who responded to his home around 7:45 on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 10, after he suffered a double pulmonary embolism, with blood clots in both of his lungs.
Fischer had just let out his English Cocker Spaniel, Digger, when the incident happened. He was struggling to breathe and was drenched in sweat.
“My heart had stopped due to lack of oxygen,” Fischer said. “I remember right before, calling 911 and I remember someone coming in my front door, but I didn’t know who. Then I blacked out until they brought me back with CPR.”
When he came to, Fischer recalls seeing a number of faces looking down on him but had no idea how he ended up on the floor of his house. He has no memory of his ambulance ride to Sanford Tracy. Fischer was flown to Sanford in Sioux Falls on a fixed-wing plane, not the normal chopper, which had to turn around because the cloud ceiling was too low.
An ultrasound revealed the blood clots, and Fischer, who is only 49 years old, underwent same-day surgery and was cleared to go home the following day.
“I was in surgery around 1 o’clock Tuesday, spent the night in the hospital … next morning they came in and said, ’Your vitals look good, we got the blood clots out, you’re off blood thinner — you can go home,’” Fischer said.
Fast forward to Monday night’s council meeting, where Fischer did his best to publicly thank those who came to his aid. Although he fought back some tears, Fischer was able to convey his gratitude to those who helped him — most of whom were present at the meeting.
“These guys saved my life,” Fischer said Monday. “A thank you isn’t enough. If it wasn’t for the quick response … I’d be dead. I just want you all to know how much you mean to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Tracy Mayor Pam Cooreman followed Fischer’s remarks, saying Tracy residents are lucky to have the emergency services available in and around town.
“If we wouldn’t have had them in town and he had to wait longer for an ambulance, he wouldn’t be here today,” Cooreman said. “That’s what our tax dollars pay for; that’s one of the privileges we have of living in this town. We want to thank all the EMTs, the fire department and the police.
The council then presented those in attendance with certificates for their work, with Fischer himself handing out each one as he shook the same hands that helped save his life. The awards went to Denny Alexander, Dale Johnson III, Amber Johnson, Adam Bruder, Kim Daniels, Charlie DeSchepper, Tristan Larson, Dave Nilius, Jason Lichty, Parker Lemburg, Jonathon Erbes and Will Alf.
In other business Monday … • City of Tracy Finance Director Tyler Twistol updated the council on the City’s funds, noting that the utilities fund was up about $5,000 more compared to 2025. Revenue from the liquor store was also about $5,000 higher in January than at the same time a year ago; and licensing revenue was about $500 higher than in January 2025.
• Librarian Val Quist reported that a county-wide book series will take place in commemoration of the 250th birthday of the United States this summer; the series will be a co-op effort with Marshall-Lyon County, Cottonwood, Balaton Minneota libraries. Three books will likely be featured over the course of a few months, with discussions taking place at each library.
Quist also said that the library was notified on Feb. 11 that it has been awarded a Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grant for $48,250, hoping to use this money to expand the children’s department and establish a space dedicated to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) with support from Xcel Energy/Heart of America Foundation. The library has five years to use these funds. Also, Quist will be applying for funding from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council for a Tracy mural for the north side of the library building.
• Community Development Director Tom Dobson said interior finish work on the 2nd St. East spec. house is nearly complete and said interior construction at the future community center is going well.
