HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 03.26.2001Emergency Services Committee
3-26-01
Committee Members:
William Staudinger
Lauren Van Roekel
Pat Kimmet
Bill Brennan
Ken Olson
Staff: Police Chief Rick Musson
Fire Chief Jim Stevens
Ambulance Director Jan Fanght
Ken Olsen called the mee~ to order.
Fire: Chief Jim Stevens stated that this would be his last official duty to this committee as Fire Chief. As
of April 3, 2001, he will be stepping down. He would like this committee to assign some members to work
with the current and new administration ia order to form a Fire Committee. This committee will need to
conduct negotiations and contracts with the Laurel urban fire service area, Lanrel Airport, and Boys and
Girls Ranch. Pat Kimmet asked who nomaally serves on this committee. Jim stated that the Fire
Committee is folmed to look at the contracts for fire protection serdee. 'Ilxis committee consists of the Fire
Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs, two members of the Cite Council and whoever is appointed by the Chairman
of the Emergency Services Committee. Ken Olson ~ated that the districts are charged fees according to the
' different mil levy mounts. The Fire Committee makes recommendations of the fees to be charged to the
Emergency Services Committee and then this committee makes recolnllleUdations to the City CounCil.
Chief Stevens slated that in Districts 5, 8, and 7 and the Laurel urban district an agreement was offered of
10% over three years for fire serdee. This was done since this area was easy to predict the growth rate.
The Airport Authority and Boys and Girls Ranch opted to renew their contracts every year. The fire
districts are charged fees according to the fire districts they are in. Everything is included into the tax roll
for residential or subdivialon districts. The other dislrims are charged according to the structures. This
district includes farms, larger m'actures and compounds. The money received from the conlmcts goes into
the City general fund. Ken stated that traditionally the money received from urban fire areas was used for
deparmaental use and the money received from the other areas was used for general use. Jim Stevens stated
that. $15,000.00 of the money received from LUFSA goes towards the building and maintenance of
eqmpment and clothing costs. William Staudinger asked where the money comes from for the replacement
of equipment and he stated that there should be an mount taken out of the money to go towards
depreciation so new fire lxucks could be purchased when needed. Jim Stevens stated that the City is
worl~ng towards this part Ken Olson said that this would be a useful tool in the Capital Improvement
Project in order to realize some expenditures. They are currently looking at Columbus' plan in order to
help with the long-hinge planning for equipment replacement. Laurel does not have this plan now, but they
are ttying to get one in place.
Ken Olson asked ifa couple of members from this committee would be available for the Fire Committee.
In the past, William Standinger and Dan Dart served on the committee. Lauren VanRoekel and William
Staudlager volunteered to be on the committee, along with Chief Stevens and Chairman Ken Olson. The
new fire chief will have the dam put together. These facts and figures will be presented to the Mayor at the
Council meeting. Terry Ruffwas accepted for the position eft. he new chief. This will have to go before
the Mayor and City Council..run stated that he would go back to the position of fa-eman at that lime. He
thanked this committee for all of the support he received while he was Chief. Ken Olson stated that Jim's
management of the issues in the last year and one half have been exemplary, especially his responses to the
hotly contested issues. He stated that Jim's time and efforts have been appreciated and wished him the best
of luck in the future. Jim Stevens stated that it has been a pleasure serving as Fire Chief.
Emergency Services Committee
March 26, 2001
Page 2
Police: ClfiefRick Musson gave an update on the animal control issue. He stated that he has not heard
back from the Pet Palace shout the use of tile kennels. He decided to hack away from this at this time and
will eventually talk to Nancy Siegel about this later. At the last meeting, Lan-y McCann discussed the use
of the state building in the compound. This building has been vacated and it is being offered to the Police,
Ambulance or Fire Department for use. This building would take about $30,000.00 for clean up of the
underground tanks. William Staudinger asked if the Montana Department of Transportation building
would be big enough for use. Rick stated that the building has two large bays that were used for the dump
tmcka and a small garage. The garage would be ideal for animal control. Larry McCann recommended
that one of the three organizations take tins building. The Fire Department needs something bigger than this
building and with the area; this would not work well for the Ambulance Department. William asked if the
Fire Department would be better off to add onto the Safety Complex. Rick Musson stated that they talk
every month about building plans, but this will take planning fi'om all of the depamnents. William stated
that it would be better to fm the complex first then work on the ambulance building. Ken Olson stated that
space is the real issue and is one of the biggest problems for all of the departments. Architectural or
construction designs with dollar signs are needed first to see what is feasible. Once cost estimates am
available, a package could be presented to the Budget and Finance Committee. Chtef Musson said that
each department has to get together to go before the City with a plan. The Fire Department has been
planning for many years and the Ambulance Depattment has a plan that was presented. Ken st,~ted that
each department is trying to get by with what is available right now. William stated that there has to be an
overall capital imprevement plan with some money going hack to each depamnent instead of all of the
money going into the general fund The FPP committee was changed to address the issues pertaining to
the building like additions and allocations of space used by each department. This committee consisted of
the department heads and the committee has since been dissolved. Ken said that the committee could be
reconstituted with the idea of looking at the information in order to come to a solution to offer a
consolidation. He said that the Emergency Services Committee could see ff the Mayor would assign a new
FAP Committee. This way, the committee would not be confronted with absorbing the costs that are built
into a Capital Improvements Project. At this time, the meehamcs are not in place to move forward and
address the issues. Pat IGmmot said that since there is no plan at this time and no money to work with,
does this come back to the Appropriation's Committee. Ken stated that the program had a $20,000.00 line
item with money allocated but the moucy was taken away. ~ further stated that he would support each
department starting with $5,000~00. This would alleviate lime in second guessing tha judgements and the
steps yet to be taken. Before this can be done, the Mayor has to approve of it. Chief Mussun stated that as
budgets go, one is robbed in order to pay the other. The depamnents have been told to reduce their budgets
by 5% before they start. He further stated that there is not a department in the City that doesn't live on cuts
every year. Each depamnent presents very reasonable budgets to begin with. Ken Olson stated that the
limited amount of space is a priority that needs serious consideration. William stated that there should be
money going to depreciation in each department. Bill Breanen said that state law does not allow money to
be allocated to each department
Chief Rick Musson stated that they have shout 40 bikes that have not been recovered and the corot has
released evidence that was never claimed. There are two ways to get rid of these items - by auction or
giving these items to a charitable organization. The Chief stated that he decided to give these items to the
American Legion Baseball to sell at their garage sale. He said that he has no allegiance to the American
Legion Baseball. They will figure out the dollar value of the items and g~ve a receipt of the worth.
Rick farther stated th,at they should be getting out the new SRO Grant in the next few weeks. On Thursday
evening, they will be meeting at the school with the drug and alcohol group. Speakers will be present at
this meeting Anyone from this committee who is interested, should attend this meel~-ng. Ken Olson said
that he applauds the Police Deparmaont's efforts with the SRO and thanked Rick for this.
Emergency Services Commiraee
March 26, 2001
Page 3
Ambulance: Ambulance Director Jan Faught reported that the comman~der at AMR has changed. Allen
Bergerman is now in charge. She has been trying to meet with Allen to go over the boundaries in order to
make a map.
The mutoal aid format was approved. Jan has not been able to get ia touch with Jim Turner from Joliet.
When Jan contacted Park City, they stated that the old agreement worked for them and she suggested
getting a new agreemen/on the books. Molt would still like Laurel to ~ansport at the Canyon Creek area.
It was their decision since they could not use mutual aid for this purpose. Jan was asked what the
difference was with mutual aid. Jan slated that mutual aid returns the favor between the two organi7afions.
When Laurel helps Molt, they return the favor by loaning people since they do not Ixansport patients. Jan
said that this works very well.
Jan stated lhat she looked at the slate building at the compound. This building comes very close to what is
needed by the Ambulance Deparlment. There is a bay that is large enough for the two ambulances and
enough room for office space. Storage space is needed. The location would be horrible to respond fxom,
though. William said that the Yellewstone Bank lot was not abad set-up. Jan said that there is not a lot
of money to work with. She said that the Ambulance Department has a great crew and enough people to
cover the seven-day, 24-hour shifts, but they get discouraged by not having enough room to work in or to
meet. Some feel that they are being overlooked, but all three departments have the ~ame problems. Ken
stated that they haven't had a chance to talk to Mayor Clmrles Rodgers and the City Council about the
proposals that were presented by the Arab,lance Department. Both were very impressed with these plans.
Pat Kimmet asked if this commi~lce could make a recommendation to the City to have a line item for each
department. Ken said tlmt this is something for the Budget and Finance Committee to handle. There is
point wl~'e the space issue has to be addressed in order to fred a solution and a plan for the future.
The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 234 at 5:30 p.m. at City
Council Chambers.
Respeeffu/ly submitted,
Klm Wombolt