HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] Minutes November 7, 2018
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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, November 7, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the St.
Joseph Fire Hall.
Members Present: Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, City of St. Joseph Representative Bob Loso, St. Joseph
Township Representative Mark Thompson, St. Wendel Township Representative Greg Salk. City
Administrator Judy Weyrens.
Others Present: Assistant Fire Chief David Salzer, Doug Fredrickson
Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes from May 2, 2018 with corrections;
seconded by Thompson and passed unanimously.
Financial Report: Weyrens presented the 2nd Quarter Financial Summary:
Revenues $ 241,507.83
Expenditures $ ( 130,935.80)
Fund Balance $ 580,095.49
Weyrens stated the 3nd quarter finance report represents 70% of the budgeted revenues collected and
38% of the budgeted expenditures have been expended. The main expenditures for the first six months
include fire call payroll, vehicle repair, maintenance, annual software support, annual membership and
liability insurance premiums. As always, the main revenue source is City and Township contract
payments.
Loso made a motion to approve the Financial Reports as presented; seconded by Salk and
passed unanimously.
Recommendation of Officers: Taufen reported the following officer positions are open for 2019: Fire
Chief, two year term; Captain, two year term(2); Captain, one year term (1). Taufen stated he is the only
applicant for Fire Chief. Applicants for the Captain positions include incumbents Paul Phillip, Keith
Louwagie and Andy Loso and Shirlie Brill. The Fire Department investigating committee meet and
recommended the Fire Board recommend the City Council appoint Jeff Taufen as Fire Chief for a term of
two years and appoint Paul Phillipp and Keith Louwagie to fill the two year Captain positions and Andy
Loso to fill the one year positions. Thompson made a motion to accept the recommendation of the
Fire Department Investigating Committee as stated above; seconded by Sulk and passed
unanimously.
Officers Pay: Taufen requested the Fire Board start the discussion to reconsider increasing the Officers
pay. He stated the last increase occurred in 2008 where the salary for the Chief increase from $2,500
per year to $3,500 per year, the Assistant Chief from $ 1,500 to$2,500 and the Captains started earning
a salary. The call volume in 270 was 270 calls for service and in 2018 the calls will exceed 460. Taufen
stated that Officers have responsibility outside of responding to calls and they do a considerable amount
of work. The Fire Board agreed to discuss salary at an upcoming meeting with the understanding that
implementation will have to wait until it can be included in the budget with the earliest budget 2020.
Capital Requests: Taufen reported that the building is starting to show its age and the door seals are
leaking on the overhead doors and the weather stripping is failing. In addition, when the facility was
constructional the overhead doors where installed with a pressure system and not safety eyes. He
requested the Fire Board consider installing sensors on the doors for added safety. The estimated cost to
add sensors to the overhead doors and seal the doors is approximately$ 5,000. As this sensors are a
safety concern; Loso made a motion to authorize the expenditure of up to$ 5,700 with Heartland
Door Sales to add eyes to the overhead doors and seal the openings as requested; seconded by
Salk and passed unanimously.
Taufen reported that the three computers in the Fire Hall are old using windows systems that are not
supported. In talking to Weyrens she stated that the City updates computers after five years. Weyrens
stated that she has receive a proposal from Shift Technologies for the replacement of all three computers
for approximately $ 1,200 per computer. The price will depend if monitors need to be replaced. Salk
November 7, 2018
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made a motion to replace the oldest of the three computers and then revisit in 2019. The motion
was seconded by Thompson and passed unanimously.
Membership: Taufen reported that the Department roster is currently at 29 members and one additional
member is on a six month leave. It is evident that the department will be two members short in 2019. He
will report at the next meeting and possibly start the hiring process.
Adjourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 PM; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously.
Judy Weyrens
Administrator