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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[02] Minutes March 5, 2019 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, March 6, 2019 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 Doug Fredrickson, St. Wendel Township Representative Greg Salk. City Administrator Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Assistant Fire Chief David Salzer, Keith Louwaige Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes from November 17, 201; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Financial Report: Weyrens presented the 4th Quarter Financial Summary: Revenues $ 350,393.44 Expenditures $ ( 224,015.05) Fund Balance $ 595,901.85 Weyrens stated the 4th quarter finance report represents 102%of the budgeted revenues collected and 69%of the budgeted expenditures have been expended. The main source of revenue is the quarterly jurisdiction payments and the overage of revenue is a result of excess fire aid received. The numbers presented do not include journal entries for recording accounts payable and account receivable. They report presented is considered unaudited; not final year end totals. Loso made a motion to approve the Financial Reports as presented; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Relief Association Update: Fire Relief Association President Keith Louwaige approached the Board to report on the financial health of the fund. He stated that the fund balance at 2018 Year End is$ 784.091 with a pension liability of$ 720,090. The special fund has a balance of approximately$ 50,716. Since the fund is covering the liability, raising the pension is not needed at this time, but the Fire Relief Board will continue to monitor. Fredrickson questioned the general holdings of the fund and how it changes and what rate of return is experienced. Louwaige stated that firefighters must be vested with 10 years of service before they are eligible to receive benefits and there is an age requirement before someone could apply for benefits. The fund is managed by Wealth Enhancement and the average rate of return in 2018 was 6%. Taufen stated the purpose of the Fire Relief Association meeting with the board it provide a summary of the financial health of the fund and if a budget adjustment is needed. State Fire Convention: Taufen requested the Fire Board authorize the attendance of two members to the annual State Fire Convention as in the past. The 2019 Convention will be held in Mankato, April 26 to April 29. Loso made a motion to approve the reimbursement of two firefighters to attend the Sate Fire Convention in Mankato,April 26 to April 29. The motion was seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Facebook: Taufen reported the Fire Department is requesting to establish a social media presence by creating a Facebook page. Taufen stated the purpose of the page is to inform the public of their services, firefighter openings. and events. In talking to other departments, most have a Facebook page. Taufen agrees that the page will need to be monitored and updated regularly. The Board discussed who-would be responsible for the management and questioned the posting of comments. Salk stated that if there is a setting that does not allow for comments, that should be disabled. The Facebook page should not engage in comments and remove any comments that are not appropriate. Weyrens presented the Board with the model Facebook page policy available through the League of MN Cities. Taufen stated two members of the department would be assigned the responsibility for posting and he would monitor. It was clarified that responsibilities for posting on the Facebook page is not compensable. Salk made a motion to authorize the creation of a St.Joseph Fire Department Facebook page, adopting the LMC Facebook policy and to set the page whereby comments cannot be added (if possible. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. March 5, 2019 Page 2 of 2 Officers Pay: Taufen updated the Board on the discussion held in November regarding the potential increase of officers' salaries. Since that meeting he has had the opportunity to survey other departments which included a wide range of salaries. Comparing departments to the call load and size of St. Joseph, the wages for the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief and Secretary appear low. His research indicated that the last increase for the Fire Chief and Assistant was in 2008. He is proposing the salary for the Chief move from $3,500 per year to$6,000 per year; the Assistant Chief from $2,500 to$ 3,500 per year; and the Secretary from $ 300 to$ 500 per year. The proposed wages would increase the budget by approximately$ 3,700.00. Assistant Fire Chief Dave Salzer stated that the requirements for Chief are increasing, which takes a considerable amount of time. The Board will have to start looking at whether or not the position should be full time. The Board agreed to table the matter to the budget meeting. Membership: Taufen reported that the Department roster is currently at 28 members due to the recent resignation of Brian Arms. Arms started with the Department in 2010 and has changed careers which will not allow him to be an active member at this time. Therefore, Taufen requested authorization to start the hiring process to fill the two open vacancies. Salk made a motion to approve initiating the hiring process for considering in July. The motion was seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Fire Chiefs Report: Taufen reported that one of the new firefighters has been placed on suspension as he has not obtained his CDL License with the two year period. The firefighter has indicated that he has scheduled his road test for March 8, 2019. The Department has not heard if they were successful in securing funding for the new grass rig. The grant is through AFG which funds 95%with a local match of 5%. The cost of the grass rig is approximately$ 119,484.96. It is anticipated that funding notifications will be mailed in June. 2018 ended with record calls, a total of 475. Adjourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 PM; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator