HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 03.24.2014 MINUTES
EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE
MARCH 24, 2014
COUNCIL CHAMBER
5:30 P.M.
Members Present: Doug Poehls Tom Nelson
Bill Mountsier Clete Knaub
Others Present: Rick Musson
Fire Siren
Doug stated the committee would discuss relocating the fire siren and then send a
recommendation to the council for removing the siren off the roof of City Hall. The City Hall
roof is currently being repaired again for water leaks. It has been determined that the vibration
of the blowing siren is causing deterioration. The questions are what will the city do with it and
does the city really need the fire siren. The siren is also the nine -o -clock whistle that has been a
part of the city for as long as many residents can remember.
Doug said he talked with Fire Chief Brent Peters about whether the siren is a necessity to the fire
department to keep the fire siren for fire calls. Brent said there needed to be two forms of call
out for the Fire Department. The pagers are the primary method for a call out. In the past, there
was an automated call system to phones within the homes of the firemen, but not all firemen
have a land line in their homes now.
Doug has discussed with Kurt the method of sending text messages via Microsoft Outlook on the
interne to the firemen's cell phones. Rick was asked if the dispatchers have the availability to
text message a fire call out. Rick stated the dispatchers don't have the time to send a text
message with all that goes on. The nice part of the siren is it is just a flip of a switch. He said it
would be nice if the solution was as easy as the push of one button, when the dispatcher makes
an announcement that goes out to all firemen pagers.
The only other reason for the siren would be known as the nine -o -clock whistle or curfew
whistle. Parents used it as a curfew for their children to be home in the evenings. The fire siren
and nine -o -clock whistle could be heard throughout the whole town years ago when Laurel had a
smaller population. A very many years ago the fire siren was the only means to notify firemen
of a fire call. Laurel was much smaller and firemen were local businessmen or worked locally.
Doug asked the committee for any ideas of a new place to move it. Rick said the Yellowstone
County DES has a pole in Thomson Park with a county disaster siren mounted on it. It is located
in the center right field of the American Legion. Maybe the county would allow the city to put
the fire siren on the same pole. If the current city siren is not the right size, then a new one may
need to be purchased. The county would have to be contacted for permission.
Doug had a couple options he showed the committee on the map. The first was at the city shop
and the second was in Firemen's Park by the Chamber of Commerce and railroad tracks. It was
determined Firemen's Park would be the best option of the two as Firemen's Park is more
centrally located within the city. A tower could be built for the fire siren.
Doug said he would do some research into a new model and the cost of one. He would also take
a look at the current fire siren on City Hall.
Other
Tom Nelson referred to the parking ordinance on the city streets. It is understood that
motorhomes and recreational vehicles can be parked no longer than five days on a city street.
The question is why a licensed vehicle, such as a car, pickup or normal automobile cannot be
parked in one spot for a longer period of time. Rick responded that Connie marks tires on
motorhomes, campers, and recreational vehicles after the summer months and hunting season to
make residents aware of the five -day parking limit. Usually a car or vehicle parked too long on
the street comes to the police department's attention by a complaint being made. Rick has
looked at this ordinance many times for the same question. There is a difference between
someone thinking their prize possession is parked on the street and someone thinking it is
abandoned. There are times when a larger vehicle parked on the street can prevent the view of
oncoming cars, and can be a nuisance or hazard if it is there too long.
Respectfully Submitted,
LU
Neva Hall
Secretary