White River Township Fire Department

Staff Meeting Minutes

May 22 & 23, 2001

 

Present During Tuesday’s Meeting:  Chief Tibbetts, Chief Brown, Chief Cassin, Chief Thacker, Lieutenant Settles, Lieutenant Skipper, Lieutenant Rowland, Lieutenant Arkins, Mike Combs, Jason Arkins, and Kim Clawson.

 

Present During Wednesday’s Meeting:  Chief Tibbetts and Carey Slauter. 

 

IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND, REMEMBER TO CONTACT YOUR LIEUTENANT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ANYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

 

 

  1. Budget is still tight.  Chief Tibbetts has transferred over $31,000 from the general fund into the cumulative fund.

 

  1. Kim gave an update on the FEMA Fire Grants (see attached).

 

  1. Chief Brown gave an update on station 53.  We anticipate moving the offices out there next week and the crews will be there June 1.  Phone lines are being moved on Tuesday, May 29.  The dedication ceremony will be sometime in August, after Engine 53 arrives.

 

  1. Carey Slauter, Kevin Skipper, and Joel Thacker will be going to the factory sometime the first week of July to do a pre-paint inspection.

 

  1. Anyone having any ideas on station 51 or station 52 renovations, contact either Lieutenant Skipper or Alford.

 

  1. New dispatch protocols will be in service June 1 and were discussed today.  Chief Tibbetts reminded everyone that when there is a problem with dispatch to make an incident report on it so it could be followed up on it later.

 

  1. Anyone needing any business cards or forms, please get with Kim immediately.

 

  1. Anyone having any ideas or suggestions on the 2002 Awards Banquet let Kim know.

 

  1. Personnel updates:

-         Megan Stoops on 6 month leave.

-         Josh Wysocki was released for not meeting his minimum hours requirement but has been reinstated.  He stated that he did not know that he was to turn in his training hours from C9. 

-         Brad Kiefer has resigned.

-         Dave Sherfick was released for not meeting his minimum hours requirement.

 

  1. All officers, regardless of career or corporation, are to be first out on all runs.  Also along the lines of officers, Chief Tibbetts stated that he would not tolerate any disrespect to a Fire Department officer.

 

  1. Lt. Rowland gave an update from the Public Education Division

-         June 30 :  5K run/walk in the Carefree Addition.  Anyone interested in participating to represent the department, let Steve know asap.

-         July 12 there will be a PR talk at Mt. Pleasant Church.

-         July 14 there will be a safety fair at the Century 21 from 11 am – 3 pm.  The safety trailer has been reserved.  Station 51 will be present for two hours and station 52 will be present for the remaining two.

-         Chief Tibbetts gave permission for Steve to contact residents on Curry Road who do not have addresses on their house or mailbox.  He would like to gently suggest that they get these installed.  Chief Brown stated that there is a county ordinance that can be used to get the residents to install the addresses later on if it becomes necessary.

 

  1.  Mike Combs stated that Channel 8 is willing to let us be guests on their show again this year to promote our Strawberry Festival.  Chiefs Tibbetts and Cassin will be going on the Saturday morning of the Festival.

 

  1. Mike Combs requested permission to obtain prices from the person who does Greenwood Fire Department’s maps.  Chief Cassin stated that the only problem with Greenwood’s maps are that they have no reference to main roads.  Most of them are just expanded views of each subdivision.

 

  1. Lt. Alford gave an update on the hiring process and advised everyone that he will be using the on duty crews throughout the process (i.e.:  interviews, physical agility, etc.).

 

  1. Lt. Alford requested that a committee be formed, with the backing of Chief Tibbetts, to review the current uniform policy and suggest changes to be made.  That committee will consist of Joe Settles, Nick Alford and Jason Arkins.  “Station 53” t-shirts will not be ordered.  We anticipate ordering one style of t-shirt and making it mandatory to be worn after 1/1/02.  The committee will bring recommendations back to the officers for final approval.

 

  1. Chief Brown reminded everyone that there is to be limited inside water usage at station 53 once we move in.

 

  1. Jason Arkins asked the officers to please police the stations and when someone is seen misusing/abusing the furniture to take action.  The chairs were not cheap and we would like them to last as long as possible.

 

  1. Jason also stated that the Board is still reviewing the pay raises for the volunteer corporation.  They are waiting on a response from Eric Reedy.  He hopes that they will be in place by mid-June.

 

  1. Chief Brown stated that the Chief’s Hiring Committee has it’s first meeting tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.  They plan to narrow the field to five people who will continue on to the formal interviews.  He hopes that the District Board will be able to make an appointment in July.

 

  1. Lt. Skipper stated that he is slowly getting caught up on maintenance issues.

 

  1. Station 52’s gear lockers are being moved to station 53.

 

  1. The washer has been replaced at station 52.

 

  1. Chief Thacker stated that we have received approval to burn the house on Lake Court.  He will need ten people next week to strip the house so the asbestos inspection can be performed.  Once the results from that are received, it will take approximately 15 days to set everything up to do the burns.  He is looking to the end of June for this.

 

  1. Chief Thacker also stated that he would be out of town from June 2-9.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts reminded everyone that Bargersville Box 202 has an automatic response from Engine 51.  We do not need to wait to be dispatched for this.

 

  1. Chief Thacker cautioned everyone on the use of their fire boots.  Ray Skipper received a puncture wound today through the middle of his foot while wearing his boots.  This is a similar occurrence to the injury that Chief Thacker received at Brownsburg Fire Department.  He is having Lt. Slauter check on these boots.

 

  1. Lt. Settles stated that trench training should be towards the end of June or first part of July.

 

  1. Lt. Settles also stated that Jory is making two support devices for the rescue.