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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 03.23.2015 Minutes from Emergency Services Committee Meeting 3/23/2015 Members Present; Doug Poehls Tom Nelson Richard Dawes Bill Mountsier Bruce McGee Members Absent; Pat Kimmet Clete Knaub Others Present; Rick Musson Brent Peters Jan Faught David Oberly Chairman Poehls called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. Doug presented the new pared down version of the Safety Mill Levy that staff had prepared.This proposal had only one change which increased the Police Department new officers to three from the two the committee had reviewed at the last month's meeting. David Oberly of 1620 DeNittis Lane Laurel, MT. presented a letter to the committee and the committee chair read to the committee concerning the need for a fulltime response capability for the Laurel Ambulance.The letter has been introduced into the committee minutes. Doug then presented a sheet which would show the yearly cost to a taxpayer for which would have a home with a$170,000 taxable value which he understood to be average in the City of Laurel. Doug also presented two tax documents which showed two homes of similar value,one in Billings and one in Laurel.This showed that the Laurel home having a tax liability of about two hundred dollars less that the same home in Billings. There was much discussion as to what people perceived their home value was and what the "taxable value"would actually be,which is much lower than that of the perceived value.The discussion was how to inform and educate the home owner that computing a proposed mill levy against their perceived value would be much more that what they would actually pay. It was also noted by Chairman Poehls that neither the City Council nor the City employees were legally able to go out to the public and try to promote the Safety Levy.This would have to be done by private citizens and perhaps the Laurel Volunteer Fire Association as they are not a city entity. Doug stated that the committees need to decide that if they were going to forward a recommendation for a Safety Mill Levy to the full council for consideration then what figure should we propose.There was quite a bit of discussion as to how much improvement the Emergency Services would realize and what would be the benefit of the reduced levy value that was brought to the committee for review. Finally after u h di cussion and input from the Emergency Services department heads,a motion was introduced. arc made a motion to forward to the City Council a request to place the original Safety Mill Levy amount of$926,000.00 on the ballot for November of 2015 for the Laurel citizens to decide.The motion was seconded by Bruce McGee.The question was called and the committee voted P-er cc r i nufes �f�7 /a.c t5 with all present voting in favor of the motion and none present voting against the motion.The motion carried and will be presented to the City Council for consideration. There was then a general discussion as to how to go out and market the proposal to the public in a manner as allowed by Montana State Statute.Some ideas were discussed and at which point Chairman Poehls stated that all concerned present at the meeting should be thinking about this challenge and we would know at next month's Emergency Services Committee meeting whether the full council had approved the Safety Mill Levy. If the council approves the levy then the Emergency Services Committee will at their next meeting discuss the marketing of this and its importance to the citizens of the City of Laurel. Chairman Poehls adjourned the meeting at 6:36 pm. Minutes were taken and provided by respectively, Tom Nelson Emergency Services Committee Co-Chairman 1620 DeNittis Lane Laurel, MT 59044 March 23, 2015 To: Mark Mace,Mayor,Laurel, Montana Heidi Jensen,Chief Administrative Officer Shirley Ewan,City Clerk/Treasurer Jan Faught,Volunteer Ambulance Service From: David Oberly Re: November Safety Levy Proposal It was a pleasure to read in Billings Gazette your safety proposal. Laurel most certainly needs an upgrade in its service to keep up with the growing demand with our growing population. I want to share with you a concern that needs to be addressed. Your ambulance service needs to include Trained Paramedics to meet the needs of a growing senior population. On two occasions I have had the need to have life saving medicine which the volunteers were not able to give me. Both times I had major setbacks. Thank you for your time and consideration. You have my full support. SAFETY MILL LEVY All based on leaving current General Fund Budgets for each department at current levels. POLICE DEPT. — Two cops per shift 24/7/365 & coverage for sick& vacation days 6 more patrol officers - $450,000 One car on a yearly rotation - $40,000 Equipment: weapons, software,misc - $5,000 Sub-total - $500,000 FIRE DEPT. — PPE - 10 sets per year(total replace in 5 year cycle) - $23,000 SCBA' s - 10 units per year(total replace in 5 year cycle) - $40,000 TRUCKS - Pumper, Brush, Ariel - $175,000 MISC. EQUIPMENT—Radios, saws,trailers (hose,heat,command) - $30,000 Sub-total 1 $268,000 AMBULANCE DEPT. — Two full time attendants& one volunteer per 12 hour shift - $100,000 Ambulance &quick response vehicle (5 year rotation) - $48,000 Cots & Monitors & Misc - $10,000 Sub-total \- $1x8,000 GRAND TOTAL - $926,000