White River Township Fire Protection District

Board Meeting Minutes

July 22, 2003

 

District Board Members Present:  Paul Kite, Butch Sutton, Jon Raker, and Bill Patterson.

 

District Employees Present: Mike Tibbetts, Scott Cassin, Eric Brown, Don Young, Joe Settles, Casey Arkins, Bruce Alexander, Kevin Skipper, Jim Engmark, Carey Slauter, Nick Alford and Kim Clawson

 

Corporation Members Present: Mike Hoffman, Mike Combs, Tony Slusher, Scott Terry, Darryl Slevin, and Tim Smith.

 

Others Present: Curt Coonrod.

 

 

Meeting called to order at 1907 strictly for the purpose of reviewing the 2004 budget.

 

  1. July 1 minutes were reviewed.  Motion by Bill and 2nd by Jon to approve as written.  All in favor and motion carries.

 

  1. Financial balance sheet distributed by Chief Cassin and discussed.  Attachment A.

 

  1. Station 52 repairs resulting from tornado damage are complete.  We are still awaiting a final written report from Don Courteau.

 

  1. Chief Brown discussed station 53 septic issues.
    1. Earthtek claims we are using too much water and that is causing the problems we are experiencing.  However we are only using approximately 200 gallons more than this time last year.  Earthtek agrees that this should not be enough to cause a problem.
    2. The high level alarm has been activating almost daily between 8pm and 3am.
    3. John Bonsett of the Johnson County Health Department agrees that this is a problem with the system design.

 

  1. Public hearing is opened for the 2004 budget.
    1. The budget estimate was distributed by Curt Coonrod and discussed.  Attachment B.
    2. The first three columns itemize the formal budget and reflects figures showing a successful appeal.

1)      Four stations with four career personnel each.

2)      Monday through Friday Fire Prevention person and 2nd Administrative Assistant.

3)      3 Captains (1 position).

    1. The fourth column is the “real” budget and reflects figures showing the appeal if denied.

1)      Station 53 janitorial service cut.

2)      Sick time not funded.

3)      Copier purchased instead of continuing lease payments.

4)      Volunteer contract staffs 7 positions.

    1. Butch praised Scott for his hard work on the budget.
    2. Mike Hoffman wanted to fund 6 positions instead of 7.  Mike also requested an additional $22,000 on the volunteer contract.  He requested that the contract read that the corporation would staff 6, but would staff 7 if the money was available.  He would also like to use reserves to increase staffing to 9.
    3. No comments from the public were heard and the public hearing was closed.
    4. Motion by Butch and 2nd by Bill to approved the preliminary 2004 budget as presented tonight.  All in favor and motion carries.
    5. Some discussion ensued regarding whether the preliminary proposal must be signed by all board members present.  It was then agreed that they did not need to sign it. 

 

  1. Engine 51 will not be received until after September 1st.

 

  1. Discussion on the next fire loan which replaces the 1997 fire loan (expires 1/1/04) which is just over $1,000,000.  Some potential items include:
    1. Addition to station 52.
    2. Station 51 maintenance.
    3. Station 53 maintenance.
    4. Station 53 plymovent system.
    5. Computers.
    6. Defibrillator.
    7. Copier.
    8. Auxiliary Rehab vehicle.
    9. Station 51 land.

 

Curt was directed to determine the projected CAGIT revenue for this fire loan.  He stated that it needed to be closed by December of this year.

 

  1. No further new business. Next meeting is August 6 at 7pm.  Meeting adjourned.