Minutes
Chairman John Boyd called
the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge to the flag was
given.
Roll Call:
John Boyd; Phil Hanford; Elizabeth G. Carr; Greg Babbitt; Arturo Pierera and
Carolyn Towsley.
Additions to the Agenda
– Under New Business: 5) Jaws.
Approval of Agenda
– Elizabeth Carr moved that the Agenda be approved as amended.
Supported by Phil Hanford.
Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
–Phil Hanford moved the minutes be approved as presented.
Supported by Arturo Pierera.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
– Elizabeth Carr noted that the 336-810 Training account was over budget.
Firemen Checking $48,095.73– Firemen Fund $915.47
Independent Bank $8,242.06
Total Assets $57,253.26. As of
November 16, 2011.
First Responders Checking
$8,192.09 as of November 16, 2011.
John Boyd said the report
would be accepted as presented.
Elizabeth Carr noted that
check #4157 was a void. Phil
Hanford moved to approve the bills: Fire Department checks #4511-4528
pre-approved and 4529-4530 and First Responders #1242-1245 pre-approved.
Carolyn Towsley seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Public Comment
– None.
Old Business
–
High Speed Internet Update –
John Boyd did not proceed with approving Charter connection because 1) the cost
would be $79.99 per month (above the $70 per month approved last month) and 2)
they need to come in to survey to see if it can be done which will be done in
the next few days. Phil Hanford
moved to approve up to $300 for installation/hookup and $80 per month plus taxes
for service. Arturo Pierera
seconded. .
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
Propane Decision
– Carolyn Towsley submitted information on the cost of a new or used tank from
various companies. Scotland Oil had
the best rate of $1,400 for a reconditioned tank and $2.299 capped filled rate
if bill is paid within 5 days.
Other companies were $2,448 plus installation from Blarney Castle Oil and
$$2,668.78 from Tri County. After
discussion it was decided to have Holton’s top off the tank using up the $360
credit we still have with them and then the Joint Townships Board can make a
decision on how they would ask the fireboard to proceed.
Fire hall tank is at 55% currently.
SOG Language
– Ron Palmer had Alan Brennan submit a new SOG
#4 (1). After editing with
corrections Phil Hanford made a motion to accept the new SOG #4 language.
Greg Babbitt seconded.
Motion carried. The new SOG #4 (1)
will read: “All personnel shall be
hired or dismissed by the Mecosta-Austin Township Fireboard.
The Fire Chief will be appointed by the Fireboard during the January
fireboard meeting of the odd years (1995, 1997, 1999, etc).
The Assistant Fire Chief and the Captains positions will be appointed
during the even years (1996, 1998, 2000, etc.)
Interest in any position needs to be expressed by signing up on the
posting and submitting a resume to the Fire Board no later than the 2nd
Wednesday in January of that year.
Each applicant will go through an interview with the interview panel.
This panel is suggested to consist of 3 firefighters with at least 5
years experience, 3 Fire Board members and the Fire Chief.
The new Chief shall take charge on April 1 of the odd years.
The Assistant Fire Chief and Captains will take charge on April 1 of the
even years. Members must compete at
least one year of service, as a trained Firefighter, (completion of at least
Firefighter 1) before holding an Officers position.”
6X6 Equipment –
Phil Hanford made a motion to get the lighting,
not to exceed $2,000, and vinyl, not to exceed $1,000, done on the new 6X6
truck. Carolyn Towsley seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried.
.
Truck 3-21 –
We only received one Internet call and bid for
$3,000 for the tanks, pump and truck.
Phil Hanford made a motion to not accept the $3,000 bid.
Arturo Pierera seconded.
Motion carried. Tanks are read to
go for scrap. Will be keeping one
hose for the new truck. There has
been an interested party for the truck that was did not want to pay the $5-6,000
originally asked for on the truck.
Phil Hanford made a motion to not accept less than $3,750 for the truck only.
Greg Babbitt seconded.
Motion carried.
Physicals –
Alan Brennan did not
proceed with ordering physicals since they were $115 for the physical, hearing
test and pulmonary test, which was above the approved $80 each.
Phil Hanford moved to have Alan
Brennan schedule physicals at $115 each.
Arturo Pierera seconded.
Roll Call: Greg Babbitt – yea; Arturo Pierera – yea; Phil Hanford – yea;
Elizabeth Carr – yea; Carolyn Towsley – yea; and John Boyd – yea.
Motion carried. One half (9)
will be done this year and the other half next year.
Fuel Tank –VanManen
will not furnish a double wall tank.
A plan needs to be put in place since it will be mandatory to have the
tank contained by 2013 for hazardous waste precautions.
Carolyn Towsley was asked to shop for diesel tanks and present the
information at the next board meeting.
New Business
–
Fire Chief’s Report
– There were 12 fire runs since last meeting.
Next summer the ridge vent on the fire building roof will need to be
repaired. Firefighter application
has been received from Emily Terpstra.
She will be going to fire school next year.
Linda Knapp will be leaving around December 1 of this year.
Safety Report
– There were no injuries. Vehicle
extrication and SCBA training and victim extrication have been completed.
Maintenance Report –
Trucks are in good condition.
A new main pressure gauge needs to be purchased for truck 3-12.
Pumps, ladders and float packs have all been tested.
Batteries for the packs were donated to the Fire Department from
Duracell.
MFR Report –
11 runs in September and 15 runs in October.
CPR training will be done at the fire hall on December 7.
MIMS training will be at the fire hall on January 11, February 8, and
March 14, 2012.
JAWS –
Austin Township and Mecosta Township boards have
agreed to provide capital outlay funding for a new set of jaws.
The fire department is in the process of getting prices for a new set of
jaws. Champion will be giving a
demo next Wednesday. One price
submitted to date was $24,624. John
Boyd called for a special meeting of the fireboard for December 1, 2011 at the
fire hall 7:00 p.m. to decide on what to submit to the township boards for
approval.
Brief Public Comment
– None.
Announcements
– None.
Correspondence
– None.
The next meeting will be
January 18, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall.
Adjournment
- At 8:30 p.m. John Boyd declared the meeting closed.
Submitted by,
Carolyn Towsley, Secretary