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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 04.23.2001Emergency Services Committee 4-23-01 Committee Members: Staff: Others: Ken Olson Dan Dart Pat Kimmet William Staudinger Lauren Van Roekel Police Chief Rick Musson Fire Chief Terry Ruff Ambulance Director Jan Faught Dan Mears Ken Olson called the meeting to order. Police: Chief Rick Musson stated that the Police Department has used Riverside Park for many years since it is a city-owned park. The issue brought up is that now the Police Department has to get permission from the Rifle Club in order to use the park. Recently a police reserve was told that he was trespassing by the Rifle Club. The person who told the reserve was not the caretaker, but someone from the Rifle Club. The Rod and Gan Club has a trap place. According to the lease agreement with the Rifle Club, it states that the club has to maintain the shelter. Rick further stated that the Police Department takes their own back stops to shoot at and does not use the club's back stop. The City mows the area. Rick asked where they could go with this. This is the only place that the department can go to for training. If the club does not cooperate with the department, can the department take measures against this? William Staudinger stated that them are only a few members in the Rifle Club and half of the building does not have concrete or a ceiling. He said that he has spoken to Larry McCann about this recently. Ken OIson asked who keeps the lease agreements of the buildings at Riverside Park. William stated that the leases have not been issued as of yet for this year. They currently have a temporary lease, but do not have a permanent lease. Ken then asked if there was a schedule set up in order to allow the Police to use this area. ChiefMusson stated that they use the range about three weekends on Saturdays each year. He said that they do not want to interfere with any event going on, but when the range is not being used, the officers should be able to go there. There have not been any conflicts in the past, but the officers should not be threatened with being arrested for trespassing. He is coming to this committee first, before the lease agreement is signed, in order to have something in the agreement that allows use of the area by the Police Department. Ken said that it is his understanding that since this is City property, an agreement has to be made in order to allow access to the Police Department for training purposes. William stated that in the past, he had tried to get the Rifle Club and Rod and Gun Club to come together to have one area, but they did not want to do this. It was asked who is in charge of the Rifle Club. There was speculation on whether it was Terry Krum or Steve Krum. Rick Musson stated that they have dealt with Steve Krum in the past. Ken Olson stated that Charlie Pratt could not attend this meeting but he was curious on the committee's thoughts about the mm-around by the weight scale. Charlie was concerned about the amount of distance to navel on the highway before the emergency service providers can turn around. Ken was given the telephone number of the Montana Department of Transportafion's District Administrator, Bruce Barrett. This number is 657-0204. Ken asked if the three departments would address this problem with Bruce Barrett together as a joint effort. Jan Faught stated that she planned to call Mr. Barrett. She also stated that she spoke to someone from the Transportation Department other than Bruce Barrett. She was told that the department plans to put up more jersey mil (concrete) on the road. There will not be an opening put into Emergency Services Committee April 23, 2001 Page 2 this rail for the use ora turn-around. She then asked for a mrn-aroand on both ends of the rail Chief Musson stated that the deparanent heads of the three departments meet on the first and third Tuesday at 11:00 of every day in which there is a City Council meeting. Ken Olson stated that those meetings are useful in which each department can talk freely in order to be sure of the goals and objectives of each department. He asked if the next meeting could focus on the issue of the mrn arounds since now is the only time that they have the window of opportunity to get the turn-arounds. If the departments wait too long, leverage could be lost. Rick stated that sornetimes the meetings are not held when there is an emergency call, and suggested that the three could meet at any time about this issue. Ambulance: Ambulance Director Jan Faught reported that a letter was received on Friday, April 20t~ fi.om the State. This letter stated that the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance has fi~een days to get a medical director or the dnparanent will not be allowed to have AED's. She wrote a letter to Dr. Lee Richardson of the Laurel Medical Center and asked for any or all of the doctors on staffto consider being named as the medical director. In this letter, she stated that a doctor is needed to participate in E.M.T. classes and to be the department's medical director. She has not received any word fi.om Dr. Richardson yet. She again asked Dr. Russo and he refused. She has not talked to Dr. Bush yet. J'an stated that Cenex is also looking for a medical director. She is working with Jay at Cenex on this. If a medical director is found, then the director can be used by both Cenex and the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance. Pat Kimmet asked if the Ambulance Department could still function without a medical director. Jan answered that they could still function except for the use of AED's and they will lose their D Certification. Ken said that since Laurel has the persormel to do this type of care, he would like to not allow this to happen. Pat asked if the medical director has to be someone local. Jan said that a medical director's use is his or her liability insurance although the department has its own I/abiLity insurance. The medical d/rector has the power to set protocols in conjunction with state protocols. The director can impose stricter protocols, though. The Ten Kids Program keeps the department on-line with every mini service in the state. Jan f~rthar stated that Rimrock Mall has two AED's and since a medical director has to sign off before any AED is sold, they must have a medical director. Ken stated that any corporation would have to have a medical director in order to have an AED. He also stated that the Laurel Medical Center does not have an AED. Jan said that AMR does not use AED's. Jan said that the government has approved a biophasic for use. This can be used on babies even since there is a less amount of voltage given and it works as a double shock. This method has less harmful effects on the heart. Ken said that it would be wise to get people together to discuss the AED issue since this would have bearing on the railroad, refinery, school system, and others. Pat said that a consensus could be obtained fi.om the three entities. Ken asked if a letter would work to be sent to inform people and solicit their help with this. Dan Dart asked if there would be any other opportunity for any of the members on this committee to open the dialog with Dr. Richardson and asked if thare is anything that they could do to help. Jan said that she spoke to all of the doctors at the Clinic about this and would try to talk to Dr. McCren again about this since he offered to be a liaison at an earlier date. Ken Olson stated that this committee would not be meeting again until alSer the 15-day expiration date. He asked if a letter could be written to help with the situation. Jan stated that there is a lot of responsibility to be assumed by the medical director and the doctor who takes this position has to give the issue a lot of thought beforehand. Ken asked Jan to do what she could do and to keep the members of this conunittee informed. He stated that a letter could be put into their mailboxes. Jan stated that she recently attended a meeting in which St. Vincent's, Deaconess, AMR, and the Billings Fire Department were attending. Dr. Bush was in charge of this meeting. While at the meeting, Jan was asked to report on the boundary issues. Because of this, a committee was formed to meet and discuss the boundaries that are needed. Allen Bergerman and Chief Jokems will meet with Jan on Wednesday morning at City Hall in order to discuss the boundaries that are wanted by the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Department. Emergency Services Committee April 23, 2001 Page 3 Jan said that the ambulance does not have to go as far into Carbon County anymore. She said that the boundary now will stop where the 628 prefix stops. Another boundary is between Laurel and Billings on 72°a Street. The department would like to get rid of the boundary north of Grand Avenue since there is not a route to this area. This boundary is east of72~a Street to King Avenue. This territory extends up to Grand Avenue and is a very difficult area to cover. Ken Olson asked iftbe people in the area are notified when the boundaries are designated. Jan stated that the people expecting an ambulance do not care what ambulance responds when they are calling 911. She timber stated that the County Commissioners do not care what the boundaries are as long as the whole county is being covered by ambulance service. Fire: Fire Chief Terry RulTreported that they have met with both Fire Dislrict #5 and Fire District #7. They will meet with District #8 tonight. The Laurel Airport District, Boys and Girls Ranch District, and the Urban District will meet later. After they have met with all of the districts, a meeting will be set up with the committee consisting of William Staudinger, Dan Dart, Lauren Van Roekel, Ken Olson and the Laurel Volunteer Fire Deparmaent will meet. Police ChiefMusson slated that he would be out of tewn during this committee's next meeting and would send a representative to the meeting. The next meeting will be held on Monday, May 21, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers. The areeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kim Wombolt