Minutes
The meeting was called to
order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman John Boyd.
Pledge to the flag was
given.
Roll Call:
John Boyd; Greg Babbitt; Phil Hanford; Elizabeth G. Carr; and Carolyn Towsley.
Absent - Arturo Pierera.
Additions to the Agenda
– Under New Business: 5) First Responders Payroll and 6) First Responders Truck
Protocol.
Approval of Agenda
– Greg Babbitt moved that the Agenda be approved as amended.
Supported by John Boyd.
Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
– Greg Babbitt moved the minutes be approved as amended, under Credit Card
Status, line 2, November 18, 2010 should be November 18, 2009.
Supported by Phil Hanford.
Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
– Elizabeth Carr noted that the funds left over from last year of $2,931.50 were
moved over to their Independent Bank CD.
Holton’s bill has a little over $1,200 credit from last year’s budget
plan. It will be used to average
this year’s budget plan. She also
mentioned that Verizon phone service for this area will be now serviced by
Frontier. She also said that Austin
Township is looking into another company that offers service for a flat rate and
will be comparing it to past billings to see if it would be work switching.
She will look into this for the Fire Department also.
Firemen Checking
$60,128.73– Firemen Fund $949.97
Independent Bank $17,808.35
Total Assets $78,887.05. As
of April 30, 2010.
First Responders Checking
$8,319.99 Independent Bank
$5,106.42 Total Assets
$13,426.41. As of April 30,
2010.
John Boyd said the report
would be accepted as presented.
Meeting Format and Conduct
– John Boyd said the last meeting went too long and we needed to establish a
meeting format. On any topic a
person is allowed two public comments and to keep them to the point.
Public Comment
– Phil Hanford announced that there will be a Joint Township Board meeting on
May 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Austin Township.
Old Business
–
ISO Update
– Nothing has been heard to date.
The ISO representative has called with questions and they have been answered.
At the ISO test we did everything they asked.
It will probably take 3-6 months before we find out results.
A letter will be sent to the Fire Board Chairman, Fire Chief and
Townships letting them know the results and how it will be handled.
The ISO usually contacts the insurance companies of the residents to
inform them of our rating status.
They will also tell us what we need to do to maintain that rating.
This will all be defined in their report when released.
Mecosta-Austin Fire Department Agreement
– This topic was taken care of at the last meeting.
Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG) –Phil
Hanford has not received an attorney’s opinion.
As long as the rate is not below minimum wage, it should be alright.
The Board decided to approve the new language for the SOG.
Carolyn Towsley read the amendment:
Under NEW MEMBERS the new b)
section will read as follows. b)
Probationary pay for a non-certified firefighter shall be $4.00 per hour less
than pay given to Certified Firefighters until they have obtained Firefighters I
Certification and have completed the 90 days after certification as stated in
a). She then made the motion to
accept the amendment to SOG#4 4. (b).
Supported by Elizabeth Carr.
Motion carried. Ron Palmer will
make the Board a CD with all of the SOGs.
High Speed Internet
– Ron Palmer contacted WildBlue and found out that they are not servicing the
49346 area any longer and was referred to Earthlink which referred him to their
company holder HughesNet. Set up
will be $399.99 and monthly basic service will be $59.95 with a local
installation $200 rebate. The
$59.95 is for 1MB, 1.2 MB would be $69.95 and 1.6MB would be $79.95.
Ron Palmer said the 1 MB would be sufficient to download fire reports.
John Boyd tried to meet with Charter but was unable to and they are
sending a bid. It was noted by Phil
Hanford that Ice Mountain currently is supplied by Charter.
We will look into this further.
Tabled for next meeting.
First Responders Rescue Truck
– Phil Hanford said he needed to get a bid on a replacement of the current fire
rescue truck. The committee also
has two bids on two other trucks.
All of these bids will be brought before the Joint Townships Board meeting on
May 26. The split would be 65
Mecosta/35 Austin. Phil Hanford and
Kenn Vredenburg approached Ice Mountain for a donation.
After a definite vehicle is agreed upon the company would like that
information along with information on First Responders calls, training, etc.
They will then think about assisting.
Battery Exchange Program
– Carolyn Towsley said she was putting together the Township Tax Newsletter and
wanted to verify if any information on the battery exchange program should be
put into it. It was decided that
since budgeting is very tight this year and that 90% of the batteries are given
to people outside our townships that we will not do the program.
Carolyn Towsley made the motion to not do the battery exchange program
this year. Supported by Phil
Hanford. Motion carried.
It was recommended that the Fire Department post a notice to remind the
public to change their batteries around the Daylight Savings time.
Billing Policy
– Phil Hanford is concerned that there may be some legal issues on billing some
people and not others. There will
also be an accounting problem when bills are not paid.
It was mentioned that Lakeview bills and if they have delinquent accounts
they take them to Small Claims Court.
It was suggested that this topic be put on the Joint Townships Board
Meeting agenda.
New Business
–
Fire Chief’s Report
– There were 16 fire runs during the last two months.
Firefighter Ted Bartlette has submitted his resignation since he is
getting married and moving. Greg
Babbitt made the motion to accept the resignation.
Phil Hanford supported.
Motion carried. All of the supplies
purchased with last year’s DNR grant have been received and we are sending
copies of our cancelled checks to collect the DNR 50%.
The Fire Department is also applying for a new DNRE grant for a
tank/pump. We are applying three
different ways for the grant: 1) $8,000 for tank/pump; 2) $3,500 for tank only
3) Gear. Marv Bell will be ordering
4 pairs of gloves at $40/ea.
Safety Report
– There have been no reported injuries.
The Fire Department was invited to Rogers Dam for a tour to determine
what to do in case of emergencies at the site.
The Fire Department is also approaching Consumers Power for funding to
assist in training.
Maintenance Report
– All equipment currently is functioning properly.
First Responders Report
– No report on runs for last two months was available.
It will be provided at our next meeting.
Ron Palmer said they are currently working on buying two backboards in
conjunction with the county so they can get them at a better cost since they are
ordering as a group. Backboards
need to be ordered every year for rotation.
This will come out of the already approve $2,500 budgeted for them.
First Responders Payroll
– It has been asked by some township officials as to how the payroll is set.
A cap of $1,700 for 170 point value had been agreed on by the Fire Board
in the establishment of the First Responders.
Payroll cannot exceed this amount.
Monthly County run reimbursements do not always equal this amount because
a set amount is divided amongst the townships and city based on runs in their
area. Some quarters we may get less
and others we may get more reimbursement based on our runs.
However, the payroll and expenses are kept within their half year general
allocation and their quarterly run reimbursements.
First Responders Truck Protocol
– It was questioned if the rescue truck goes to all fire scenes as an assist.
The fire truck does go to all scenes within our jurisdiction.
It may be sent outside our jurisdiction in case it is needed there and
also to be available to go to another call should it come in.
If a call outside our jurisdiction comes in, there is always staff
available at the Fire Hall ready to run the rescue truck.
Brief Public Comment
– Phil Hanford mentioned that the Morley-Stanwood Food Pantry will be held in
June, July and August at the Morley American Legion.
The Food Pantry Committee has asked if the Fire Department would
advertise it on their sign out front.
Marv Bell will get with the Committee representative and make
arrangements to do it.
Announcements
– Carolyn Towsley announced that she will not be at the July 21 meeting and that
Helen Burden would be there to take notes.
She will need to have agenda items to forward to members by July 9.
Correspondence
– None.
The next meeting will be
July 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall.
Adjournment
- At 8:20 p.m. John Boyd declared the meeting closed.
Submitted by,
Carolyn Towsley, Secretary