HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 02.24.2014 MINUTES
EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE •
FEBRUARY 24, 2014
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M.
Members Present: Doug Poehls Pat Kimmet
Bill Mountsier Tom Nelson
Bruce McGee
Others Present: Jan Faught Rick Musson
Brent Peters
Update Budgeting Process
Brent, Jan, and Rick talked on budgets for a possible future safety mill levy. Brent handed out a
list of emergency items that the fire department considers necessities to operate efficiently and
for the safety of the firefighters. He spoke on the importance of the SCBA's, self contained
breathing apparatus, being kept up to date. Other items he mentioned were the need for a new
building to house fire and ambulance, the replacement of apparatus, as the Brush Trucks are old
and added apparatus, as a Main Pumper 1500gpm. He explained an ISO audit looks at
requirements to insure and the amount charged for insurance. They lost points for not having a
reserve pumper in inventory, also the department has not owned an Aerial Platform Truck. They
have gotten away with being required to have one because the City of Billings is always willing
to bring their Aerial Truck over to assist. Brent saw his men putting out a fire recently in below
zero weather. They were wet and cold and had icicles hanging from them. There was no place
for them to enter, as a rehab /incident command tent for their safety. The department is in need of
a hose trailer and a Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal Trailer would be an asset to the department.
Equipment from all the Emergency Responses need to have replacement programs on key
equipment that protects or improves the quality of survival. For the Fire Department, it includes
apparatus, protective equipment, and communications.
Jan also spoke on the emergency items that the ambulance department consider necessities to
operate efficiently and for the safety of the ambulance attendants. She stated that to continue to
have volunteers join the department perhaps an incentive would be to increase the wages to make
it worth it to them. They are now getting a stipend, then an amount for being on call, and another
amount for going to a call. She has received a hydraulic cot, which has been an asset and hopes
to get another one this year. She needs to keep medical equipment up to date in two ambulances
and a new ambulance is needed. The oldest ambulance doesn't meet DOT standards because it is
out of date, but it is grandfathered in because it hasn't been out of service much.
Rick talked on the emergency items that the police department consider necessities to operate
efficiently and for the safety of the police officers and dispatchers. He stated the department
needs an AED, Automatic External Defibrillator. The department has received one donation to
help with the expense. The department is always looking ahead to the number of police officers
needed for Laurel's growth, and there are schools and training for the officers to attend if there
are funds. He has heard he will get a new car in this budget, but the vehicles all have a high
number of miles on them. The dispatch system is becoming outdated and should be updated to be
compatible with the computers in the cars. His department could use an awning for the officers
to park the patrol cars under to be out of the weather from winter snow and iced windows and the
summer heat producing a hot uncomfortable car to enter.
All three department heads said that they work with budgeted items as fuel by looking at the
number of calls they previously had and calculating calls for the future and also increases in fuel
prices in the future. They take a look at operating supplies needed for their department, including
radio repairs, equipment repairs, and clothing and uniform expenses. Vehicle repairs &
maintenance costs increase with the age of vehicles. Discussion continued about considering a
safety mill levy more for capital items which could supplement the general budget. A question
was asked as to how to proceed next with a safety mill levy. Doug stated that it would be
presented to the council, but a safety mill levy couldn't be done this year. The city is working to
proceed forth with a park maintenance mill levy. There was discussion pertaining to getting the
word out to the public regarding the importance of a safety mill levy for the City of Laurel's
Fire, Ambulance, and Police departments. With a mill levy for park maintenance, the public can
see the need by driving by or using the parks, but the need for a safety mill levy isn't as visible to
the public. When the sirens go off, the curious take a peek to see what is going on and the
children run to see the fire trucks, ambulances and the police cars speeding by. But until a person
has to call for the services, they don't personally feel the importance of these services and what it
takes to maintain these emergency vehicles and the equipment and training for the firemen,
ambulance attendants, and police officers that use their skills and knowledge.
Police Policy
A CD of the Police Policy was handed out to the committee members to review. The Policy will
be presented to the council for approval.
Siren
Doug talked about the possibility to move the siren to Fireman's Memorial Park. The siren is
currently on the roof of City Hall and the roof is continually leaking and could be due to the
heavy siren. Brent said the park is a Firemen's Memorial Park and in this case may need
approval. Also during the time of dispatching out emergency vehicles, the dispatchers have
trouble hearing multiple communication from the emergency personnel. The loud siren closer to
them would create more of disturbance. A question was asked if the siren could be taken off the
building and placed on a pole next to City Hall. It was decided that no one knew how big or
what size the siren was, as no one present at the meeting has seen it up close. Doug said he
would ask Kurt about this.
Respectfully Submitted,
Neva Hall 11
Secretary