Agenda
I.
Call
meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
II.
Pledge
to the flag
III.
Roll
call
Present:
John Boyd; Phil Hanford; Arturo Pierera; Elizabeth G. Carr and Carolyn
Towsley. Absent - Greg Babbitt .
IV.
Additions to agenda
Under New Business Item 6 – Seal Coat
Under Old Business Item 4 – Propane
Status
V.
Approval
of agenda
Motion to accept agenda as amended by
Phil Hanford and seconded by Elizabeth Carr.
Motion carried.
VI.
Approval
of minutes
Motion to approve minutes as given by
Phil Hanford and seconded by Elizabeth Carr.
Motion carried.
VII.
Treasurers report
Firemen Checking $69,854.95– Firemen
Fund $967.97 Independent Bank
$5,903.71. Total Assets $75,758.66.
As of April 30, 2011. First
Responders Checking $12,253.44
Independent Bank $113.44 Total
Assets $12,366.88. As of
April 30, 2011. John Boyd said the
report would be accepted as presented.
Checks have been ordered for the Fire
Department and First Responders.
The latter checks are on hold until more information is presented to Quickbooks.
Our auditor suggested that next time the budget is planned it should be
done with input from Fire Board and Department.
The bill for Palmer Outdoors needs to have a Capital Outlay account
created. Phil Hanford moved to
create account number 971 Capital Outlay and transfer $3,000.00 from fund
balance to set the account up. Roll
Call: Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth
Carr – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Carolyn Towsley moved to approve
the bills for Fire Department, check no.4426-4461and invoices from Palmer
Outdoors for $437.96 and $246.93 for the new truck and First Responders, check
no. 1207-1223 and Quickbooks $104.76 for checks.
Arturo Pierera seconded the motion.
. Roll Call:
Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth Carr – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Carolyn
Towsley – yea; John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Ron Palmer asked that the bill for Mecosta County Emergency for the extrication training be taken out of the First Responders Training account.
Carolyn Towsley made the motion to
close First Responders CD of $113.44 and put it into their Chemical Bank
checking account. Phil Hanford
seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Fire Department closed last year with
$9,392.76 holding $915.47 for Firemen’s fund; $600.00 for jaws; $1,584.64 for
memorial sign; and $3,961.55 for the DNR grant.
It leaves a balance of $2,331.10 that included $1,850 of a 2009 grant
that was received in 2010. In
essence they had $681.10 left over last year.
Carolyn Towsley made the motion to move
$2,331.10 that was left over from last fiscal year in Fire Fund to their CD.
Phil Hanford seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
2. High Speed Internet Update
Nothing new. Will get costs from WildBlue Hughes Net and test Elizabeth Carr’s Verizon wireless stick. We will pay two more months of Net Port through July.
3. New 6 X 6 Truck Status
Pump worked well. The alternator needs to be checked and the valves fixed. It was moved by John Boyd that the following expenses be spent on the new tanker: pump: panel throttle control assembly, oil pressure gauge, gaskets for (5) 21/2 inch valves; 5 inch flex pipe 20” long and alternator. Seconded by Carolyn Towsley. Motion carried.
John Boyd made the motion to put the old 6X6 out front of the fire hall after the dedication ceremony to sell for $6,000 for the truck with the tanker or $5,000 without the tanks. Phil Hanford seconded. Motion carried.
4. Propane Status
Carolyn Towsley reported that the rates have not been released. Carolyn made the motion to allow the Chairperson and Secretary to get rates when released and make decision on who will be supplier for next year. Arturo Pierera seconded the motion. Motion carried.
1.
Election
of Chair and Vice Chair
Carolyn Towsley nominated John Boyd for
Chairperson and Phil Hanford for Vice Chairperson.
Elizabeth Carr seconded the motion.
Roll Call:
Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth Carr – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Carolyn
Towsley – yea; John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Elizabeth Carr nominated Marv Bell for
Fire Chief for the next two years; term to expire March 2013.
Phil Hanford seconded the motion.
Roll Call:
Phil Hanford – yea; Elizabeth Carr – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Carolyn
Towsley – yea; John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Each township needs to go to their
boards to determine who will be recommended to be on the Fire Board.
Election of Board members will be next meeting.’
Discussion was on when to fill Fire
Department vacancies. At next
meeting we will clean up the language on SOG #4 (election of fire department
officers) and SOG #15 (inspection of personal vehicles to be done once a year.
It needs to coincide with the annual proof of liability insurance.)
McNell & Company, current insurance
company, has submitted a list of suggestions for risk management issues to be
addressed. Marv Bell said that ANR
has donated posts to be set up in front of the propane tank.
He will contact Fuel Management to see about a shut off valve for the
tank. We will also go out for bids
for a maintenance plan for the heating/air conditioning.
2. Fire Chiefs Report
18 fire runs since last meeting.
The sign dedication will be May 27, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. The Fire Department will serve coffee and cookies afterwards.
Looking at various air compressor pumps to replace the one they are borrowing from John Boyd.
There is to be a mock disaster Saturday May 21 in various areas in Big Rapids, Big Rapids Township, Austin Township and Wheatland Township. They have lost two employees and have had two more candidates who have asked to join the team.
3. Safety and Training Report
All of the First Responders have completed their MFR training credits. Extrication classes were also attended. Three members from Reed City were also there and we will be billing them for their cost of the training.
4. Maintenance Report – All equipment is fully functional.
5. MFR Report
No injuries.
Need stabilization tools at $600/set. Also need chain for extrication. Cribbing will be needed also. It was agreed by the Board to have them look into the cost of these supplies. They will be presented at the July board meeting.
Morton Township has been covering calls well.
Submitted by,
Carolyn Towsley
Secretary