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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-96 "!o . Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Fire Advisory Board of the City and Township of st. Joseph met in regular session on Wednesday, February 7, 1996 at 8:00 p.m. in the City Hall. Members Present: Fire Chief Dave Theisen, Township Supervisor Joe Bechtold, City Councilor Bob Loso, Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens. Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; seconded by Bechtold. Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso. Nayes: None Motion Carried 3:0:0 Financial Report: Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens presented the 4th quarter financial report. The reserve balance will be increased to show the monies received from the sale of the pumper truck and to show the contribution from the College/Convent of st. Benedict. The final report will be mailed as soon as it is completed. FIRE CHIEFS REPORT & OLD BUSINESS Colleqe\Convent of st. Benedict Contribution: Chief Theisen . reported that the City has received the 1995 contribution for fire fighting from the College/Convent of st. Benedict. Additionally, the College/Convent has agreed to increase their contribution to $10,000 in 1997. Fire Contracts: The Fire contract with st. Wendel Township has been fully executed. Theisen will check the status of the fire contract with st. Joseph Township. Paqer Donation: The Fire Department received $625 from the Central Minnesota Emergency Services towards the purchase of two pagers. These pagers had previously been approved by the Fire Board. Additionally, the Lions have donated $2,000 for the purchase of 5 additional pagers. Theisen reported that Fire Fighters are required to pay $50 for the pagers:'"ll.1.a+ ~(H;e 0ep It /(};~~ Gy '(-~( ,t:,t..'~{;i.;f1+~V. Turnout Coats: The turnout coats which have been approved and purchased have been received by the Fire Department. Lock for Fire Hall: The new lock for the fire has been installed, which includes a touch pad for the overhead doors at a cost of $180. Safety Manual: The safety manual 1S still being circulated to receive signatures. . Tanker Grant: Letters were sent to the area Lions Clubs asking for support of the Tanker Grant. As of this date we have received the following donations: st. Joseph Lions Club - $5,000; Cold Spring Lions club - $200; and Al Krey - $100. Fran Court will be resubmitting the application with the week. . NEW BUSINESS Payroll for Officers & First Responders: Theisen reported that one of the ,Officers lS requesting an increase in annual salary. The board discussed that the wages have not been increased for a long period of time and unless one of the positions has changed significantly all the wages should be increased. Bechtold discussed increasing the hourly wage for responding to a fire. Loso questioned whether city employees receive compensation from both departments when responding to a fire call during day time hours. Theisen stated that other employers in the area allow their employees to respond to a fire call and pay them while they are gone. Theisen urged the city to continue the practice, because if the city does not, there is no incentive for other employers to pay fire fighters while they are gone. Day time help is difficult to find. After a lengthy discussion Bechtold made a motion to increase the fire fighting hourly wage from $8.00 to $10.00 effective June 1, 1996; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso. Nayes: None. Motion Carried 3:0:0 Loso made a motion to increase the following salaries: Fire Chief - $ 200 annually . Assistant Chief $ 100 annually Secretary - $ 100 annually Treasurer - $ 100 annually The motion was seconded by Bechtold Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso Nayes: None. Motion Carried 3:0:0 New Fire Hall: Theisen stated that he was disappointed at hearing the Ci ty council took action to suspend activity on the Fire Hall. Theisen continued to state that he has been pushing for construction in 1996 and his only hope is that the Boards work together and make decisions. Loso stated that he was hoping the Council would reaffirm their decision of past Council meetings to suspend activity on the Fire Hall until 1997. The City has many projects and he is concerned with regard to the tax impact on the residents of st. Joseph. He is supportive of the Fire Hall, but not at this time. Bechtold stated that the Township was also disappointed by the action of the City Council and was not aware of previous decisions to suspend construction of the Fire Hall until 1997. The Township will be paying for 50% of the Fire Hall, and the debt will impact the township as hard as it does the City. It . was the understanding of Bechtold that the decision with regard to time of construction would be made after the plans have been completed. . c ~ · Grass Riq: Theisen reported that the grass rig is in need of replacement. Those present agreed to table discussion of this matter until the funding of the tanker truck is determined. Charqinq for Rescue Calls: As per the City Council request, Loso and Theisen contacted ACCU SERV with regard to collection of charges for rescue calls. At this time the Fire Department does not charge for rescue calls, but the Council is requesting this matter be researched. ACCU SERV charges 7% of the fees collected and would receive all the billing information from Gold Cross Ambulance. Theisen stated that the Fire Department is opposed to charging for this service as it might make some of the elderly not call for help when they need it. other concerns included: would any funding be lost because we now charge, what happens to those who don't have insurance or can't pay the balance, and are tax payers going to feel they are being charged for a service they are also paying taxes for? Those present agreed to place this matter on the next agenda for further discussion. Phone line for paqers: The City currently pays for a separate · line to run the pagers. The only advantage to this line is that you can set the pagers from any phone. Eliminating this line does not limit the paging ability of the Fire Department. Loso made a motion to eliminate the pager line as requested; seconded by Bechtold. Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso Nayes: None. Motion Carried 3:0:0 state Fire Convention: The state Fire Convention is being held in Sauk Rapids and the Fire Department is requesting authorization to send 4 fire fighters to the convention. Loso made a motion authorizing the attendance of 4 fire fighters at the state Fire Convention in Sauk Rapids; seconded by Bechtold. Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso Nayes: None. Motion Carried 3:0:0 First Responder Books: Theisen requested authorization to purchase new Federal Handbooks for EMS personnel. There have been numerous changes since the last book was purchased. Loso questioned if the manual was available on magnetic disk and requested Theisen to check further. Bechtold made a motion to purchase the Federal Handbooks as requested; seconded by Loso. Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso Nayes: None. Motion Carried 3:0:0 Generator: The Fire Department surplus generator was transferred · to the Maintenance Department. The next financial report will show a transfer of funds from the City General Fund to the Fire Fund in the amount of $300.00. . . st. Wendel Cost Portion: Those present discussed the importance of relaying the additional cost of the fire hall to st. Wendel Township. Adiourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 10:15 p.m.; seconded by Bechtold Ayes: Theisen, Bechtold, Loso Nayes: None Motion Carried 3:0:0 Judy Weyrens Deputy Clerk . .