Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] MinutesMay 6, 2009 Page 1 of 2 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Fire Board for the City of St. Joseph and Townships of St. Joseph and St. Wendel met in regular session on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, City of St. Joseph Representative Bob Loso, St. Joseph Township Representative Jeff Janssen, St. Wendel Township Representative Greg Salk. City Administrator Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Assistant Fire Chief Justin Honer. Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes of May 6, 2009 as presented; seconded by Janssen and passed unanimously. Financial Report: Weyrens presented the following 1S` Quarter Fire Fund Financial Summary: Revenues $ 55,234.69 Expenditures (18,986.13) Fund Balance $ 526,997.31 Loso made a motion to approve the 1St Quarter Financial Report as presented; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Opticoms for Signal Lights: Weyrens stated that she has received revised budget information from the Stearns County Engineer with regard to the cost of the opticoms. It is anticipated that the cost to equip the two signals lights will be approximately $ 6,000. The City Council concurred with the need to install the equipment and have authorized the expenditure with the cost being split equally between the Fire Fund and the General Fund. Tauten stated it is his understanding that the equipment already installed at the intersection of 12'h Avenue NE and CSAH 75 is now working. New Member Update: Tauten reported that the five (5) new firefighters are in the process of completing training. As of this date they completed and passed first responder as well as completing State Certification. They are also working on hazmat and Fire Fighter I. Taufen also reported that the department is aware that all firefighters must have a Class B license and if they do not have such they will not be allowed to drive the fire equipment. St. Ben's Fire Contribution: Weyrens stated that the City has received the annual contribution from the College/Monastery has been received. Grant Update: Taufen reported that the Fire Department is working on a number of grants. The first grant is a training grant from the State of Minnesota. The Department applied for funding in the amount of $ 8,800 to assist with the following training: 1St arriving Officer; Firefighter I; Firefighter II; Highway Safety. The department received a grant award in the amount of $ 2,800. The department also requested funding in the amount of $ 500 from Stearns Electric to purchase a head thermometer for infants. The department did receive funding and the cost of the thermometer is $ 582.00. The Fire Department will pay the additional cost through the Relief General Fund. Tauten stated that the Department is seeking approval to seek grant funding from the DNR to purchase 20 pagers. The Fire Board recently approved the purchase of five new pagers to begin a rotation of the equipment. The current pagers where part of a grant and all 30 pagers were purchased at one time and are in need of updating. The intent is to replace pagers over a four or five year period for ease of budgeting and prevent spikes in financial need. The DNR Grant is a 50/50 matching grant. Taufen stated that the Department is seeking approval to submit a grant in the amount of $ 5,000 with a City contribution of $ 5,000 if successful. May 6, 2009 Page 2 of 2 Loso made a motion authorizing the Fire Department to seek a grant from the DNR in the amount of $ 5,000 to be used for the purchase of 20 new pagers. If awarded a grant, the City must match the grant in the amount of $ 5,000. Further, if the grant application is funded, authority is given to purchase the equipment. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Discussion: When questioned the timeline for the grant, Taufen reported that the grants should be awarded June 1. Since the five pagers already approved by the Fire Board have not been ordered, Taufen stated that he wait to do so until the status of the grant is known. NEW BUSINESS Defibrillator Donation : Taufen reported that the St. Joseph Jaycees have donated a defibrillator to the Department. The value of the defibrillator is approximately $ 1,400. In the past the Jaycees have paid for the community 151 responder course and this year Gold Cross covered the cost of the course. Since the Jaycees had set aside funding they questioned if the Department needed assistance with the purchase of any equipment. It was through this discussion that the Jaycees have donated the defibrillator. Janssen made a motion to accept the donation of the defibrillator from the St. Jaycees with an approximate value of $ 1,400 and put the equipment in service. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Safety Vest: Taufen presented the Board with the new federal regulation mandating the use of Safety Vest when responders are working in the ROW. Since the Department did not use Safety Vests, the Department does not have the required equipment. Taufen stated it is he intent to issue each member a safety vest that will be placed over the turnout gear. The vest that would be used is one with a tear away side for easy removal. Taufen stated that he has received pricing anywhere between $ 23 and $ 60. Since the use of safety vests are an unfunded mandate, Salk made a motion to purchase 30 safety vests at a cost not to exceed $ 50.00 per vest. The motion was seconded by Janssen and passed unanimously. Seat Belt Requirement: Taufen reported that with the recent legislative changing requiring the use of seat belts has presented a challenge for the Department. First, some fire trucks did not come equipped with seat belts and others do not have enough strapping to connect to the lock due to the volume of the turnout gear. Taufen stated that in reviewing the Fire Equipment only two trucks will need to be modified to have working seatbelts. It is estimated that the cost of updating should not extend beyond $ 500. Tauten also reported that he has instructed all Firefighters that they must wear seatbelts when driving any City vehicle. Salk made a motion to approve up to $ 500.00 to extend the seatbelts in the vehicles that need modification. The motion was seconded by Janssen and passed unanimously. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:00 PM. Judy Weyrens Administrator