HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Services Committee Minutes 02.26.2007 MINUTES
EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMYUFEE
FEBRUARY 26, 2007
COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5:30 P.M.
Members Present: Doug Poehls, Pat Kimmet, Chuck Dickerson, Norm Stamper
StaffPresent:
Rick Musson, Jan Faught
Minutes
The minutes of January 22, 2007 were approved as presented.
Do~ Ordinance
Discussion was pushed back because the committee did not receive the information from the
Cherry's on the Colorado Springs ordinance.
MIlL Letter
Doug Poehls presented a letter written for MRL on the railroad crossings being blocked (see
attached letter).
Discussion on south side crossings and train crew changes that affect blocking oferossings, and if
there is any way to control it. Chief Musson said that he had met the head of MRL security, who
is interested in this issue and would like us to include him with the letter. Pat suggested that
Doug meet with Gary Waddeli and the trainmaster at MRL-Laurel to go over the letter and the
issues to see what ideas they might have to help this situation.
Mutual Aid
Norm gave an update that insurance coverage is the one concern Billings' legal counsel had with
the Mutual Aid Agreement. Since both Billings and Laurel are insured through MMIA, that is
really a non-issue. We should be getting this signed and back in the next month and will then send
it out to Joliet, Molt, etc.
Jan Fauv_ht - Ambulance Director
CHS Incident: Jan reported that several agencies had met to debrief the incident at CHS refinery.
It was a very good exchange of information.
Ambulance crews: The crews are working on their last ALS endorsements. If anyone wants to
he a guinea pig for practice IV inserts, talk to Jan.
Rick Musson - Police Chief
Tasers: The tescrs were ordered today and will he here in three to six weeks. Three officers will
go to Bozeman the first of March for instructor training. Chuck raised the question of the bulk of
the officer's belts with equipment.
Applications for the police officer position are due on Wednesday. Rick mentioned a consortium
of several police departments in the state that are working to get standardized tests for applicants
so they could share applicant lists.
The meeting adjourned.
DRAFT
Montana Rail Link
Laurel Yard Master
Dear Sir:
The Emergency Services Committee for the City of Laurel has informed the council of a
situation that occurred on January 14, 2007, concerning blocking of railroad crossings.
When an ambulance call was received, the attendants who live on the south side of Laurel
were unable to cross the railroad tracks because of trains at all three of the south side
crossings. We believe that the tralnmaster wes notified of the situation and told the
police dispatcher which crossing would clear first for our attendants.
At issue is the fact that it took twelve (12) minutes for the trains to clear the crossings.
Laurel Municipal Code 10.56.040 established that no rail crossing may be blocked for
longer than ten (10) minutes. The average response time for the city's ambulance service
is 8½ minutes; therefore, the twelve-minute blockage exceeded city ordinance and greatly
impeded the ambulance crew's response to a call.
We would appreciate your cooperation in the future by leaving at least one south side exit
open and also by complying with the ten-minute blockage role at all railroad crossings.
Sincerely,