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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.09.21August 9, 2021 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 Monday, August 9, 2021 at 5:00 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 via telephone. Others Present: Assistant Fire Chief David Salzer, Finance Director Lori Bartlett Members Absent: Administrator Therese Haffner Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes from May 10, 2021; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously by those present. Financial Report: Bartlett presented the second quarter financial report. The operational fund balance shows a surplus of $48,494 as of June 30, 2021. The fire fund received 46% of the revenue budget and spent 13% of the expenditure budget at the end of the second: quarter. The main revenue sources are received from contract services. Expenditures are mainly operational. Loso moved to approve the financial reports as presented; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. 2022 Proposed Budget: Bartlett presented the proposed 2022 fire fund budget. The proposed 2022 budget is an increase of $22,680. The City of St. Joseph would absorb most of the increase (11.1 %), St. Wendel Township next largest (8.7%), and St. Joseph Township would see a decrease (-1.1 %) due to market value adjustments from annexations. The required municipal contribution is $0. The Fire Board recommends a minimum contribution of $3,000 to supplement the St. Joseph Fire Relief pension fund. Stipends and salaries were discussed. The Fire Chief salary was increased to $8,000 and drill/fire calls at $16/hour per previous fire Board action. The proposed 2022 budget includes the carry forward of the five-year capital equipment budget. An addition of the roof replacement in a;few years was added per the roof inspection report completed in the summer. The Fire Board reviewed each capital item. For 2022, the capital equipment purchases are proposed to be the rescue van, grass rig and pumper/tanker. The rescue van is used on nearly every call. The fire fund has the cash set aside to purchase the van. The Fire Board requested a FEMA grant for the grass rig. Award notifications go through September. The pumper/tanker truck will be addition to the fleet. The truck committee determined the ladder meets NFPA standards and is in good working order. The ladder truck is 20 years old. It will last another few years. The discussion of adding a pumper/tanker instead of replacing the ladder truck was determined to be a higher need. Loso moved to approve the proposed 2022 fire budget adding a $30/year clothing allowance, adding $1,500 salary for the assistant fire chief, and adding drill calls for fire truck checks; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Loso moved to approve the budget includes five sets of gear at $3,000 per person; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Weekly Truck Check/Pay Fire trucks are required to be checked weekly by two members and takes two hours to complete. The members do not get paid to conduct the truck checks. Salk moved to approve hourly call pay to complete truck checks; seconded by Loso and passed unanimously. Perks/Retaining Current Members: The St Joseph Fire Relief requested incentives to recruit and retain firefighters to the volunteer department. The job of a volunteer firefighter takes members away from their families and employment at all hours of the day. It is difficult to keep people interested. August 9, 2021 Page 2 of 2 Salk moved to approve $30 per member per year clothing allowance; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Pay. The Fire Board recommended the Fire Chief move from $6,000 per year salary to $8,000 per year to compensate for the additional reporting and administrative tasks of operating the fire department. The Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief recommended salaries of $10,000 per year and $5,000 per year, respectively for their positions. Each day is getting busier to keep the department moving forward. Salk moved to approve $8,000 per year for the Chief, $4,000 per year for the Assistant Chief for 2022; seconded by Fredrickson; motion amended by Loso to increase the Assistant Chief to $5,000 per year and passed unanimously. Pumper/Tanker Truck Update: Taufen received bids for a pumper/tanker. Rosenbauer provided a bid for $750,000 for the chassis and truck. Equipment for the truck is additional. Taufen requested approval to move forward with the pumper/tanker not to exceed $800,000. Any additional equipment costs would be covered by fundraising from the St. Joseph Fire Relief. Salk moved to approve moving forward with the purchase of a pumperltanker truck not to exceed $800,000; seconded by Fredrickson and passed by the majority. Loso voted nay. Salk moved to approve transferring the $100,000 reserved capital budget from the ladder truck to the pumper/tanker; seconded by Fredrickson and passed by the majority. Loso voted nay. FEMA Grant: Taufen reported that the grant writer has not heard back regarding the FEMA grant to replace Unit #3 truck. Grant award announcements go through September. Taufen suggested moving forward with replacing the truck using the fire department budget if the grant was not received. MNDNR Grant: The Fire Board approved submitting a grant to the MNDNR for additional hose. The grant requires a 50 percent match. The fire department was awarded $2,447.00. Loso moved to accept the grant from the MNDNR for $2,447.00 for fire hose; seconded by Salk and passed unanimously. Fire Department Study: The City Administrator mentioned the neighboring cities may participate in a fire study to see what each city can do to make their fire departments run better in the future. The administrators will be meeting in a few weeks. The Fire Board requests notes following the meeting and not to wait until the November fire board meeting. Membership: The fire department is at 26 volunteers (30 is full capacity). By mid -August, the department will lose another member. The fire department received four applications and are scheduled to interview and complete agility test on August 24, 2021. Loso moved to move forward with hiring to fill vacant positions with a recommendation from the investigating committee to the city council; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Fire Chief's Report: the call volume continues to increase. The Fire Chief's position has also become more and more demanding. The Fire Chief will provide a report of what the Chief does, what other things could be done, and what are the costs or hours to complete items. In addition, the Fire Chief, Police Chief, City Administrator will meet with Mayo Ambulance to discuss ways medical calls may be reduced. Adiourn: Loso made a motion to adjourn at 6:48 PM; seconded by Fredrickson and passed unanimously. Minutes drafted by: Therese Haffner, City Administrator Certifi �by-. ayla lein, City Clerk