White River Township Fire Department

Staff Meeting Minutes

November 14 & 15, 2001

 

Present During Tuesday’s Meeting:  Mike Tibbetts, Eric Brown, Scott Cassin, Carey Slauter, Joel Thacker, Casey Arkins, Joe Settles, Ryan Cox, Chad Witham, Chris Kindred, Jerry Harder, Tony Slusher, Greg Maxwell, Bruce Alexander, Dave Kelley, Dave Manlove, Tony Rizzi and Kim Clawson

 

Present During Wednesday’s Meeting:  Mike Tibbetts, Eric Brown, Scott Cassin, Joe Settles, Kevin Skipper, Steve Coover, Jim Engmark, Steve Rowland, Andy Martindale, Josh Justice and Kim Clawson.

 

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

 

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts commended everyone for improving the cleanliness of the fire stations.  Keep up the good work!

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts thanked everyone who had filled in open shifts for Thanksgiving.  He will purchase dinner for on duty crews.  Also, be sure to check the Christmas schedule for any open shifts and fill if possible.

 

  1. No employee of the quarter was chosen for last quarter.  Will remain open.

 

  1. Starting January, staff meetings will be held every Wednesday and Thursday, with senior staff meetings following the Thursday staff meeting.  Battalion Chiefs will deliver the inspections prior to 1000 hours to help with Thursday scheduling issues.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts discussed new award categories for the annual Awards Banquet.  Any questions, please see him immediately.

 

  1. Kim requested input on lunch choices for the December staff meetings.  Ideas so far include Hampton’s, Boston Market, Jimmy John’s and Subway.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts and Brian Bosma need to review the contract for the purchase of our next engine.  Once it has been approved and signed, we are looking at taking delivery at least 240 days later.  Our next engine to order after that will be in March or April of 2002.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that there have been several rumors circulating regarding the movement of apparatus and personnel.  Do not believe anything you hear unless it comes straight from the Fire Chief!

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts reminded everyone of the zero tolerance on porn sites on the internet.  It is your responsibility to protect your password and to log off the system when you are through.  If you would like to change your password, let Chief Cassin know as soon as possible.

 

  1. Tony Slusher requested installation of a headset system on the current Engine 51 (loaner).  Due to the age of the electronics on that truck, we cannot install a David Clark system.  However, the external speaker has been hooked up and is now working.  The 800 mhz radio system is scheduled to be online December 17th.

 

  1. Tony also requested that the map books be secured in that engine.  After discussion, Tony will work with Lt. Alford on constructing a box to hold these items.

 

  1. Bruce Alexander stated that the Audit & Review has been moved to November 28 to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday.  Will still be held at 1600 and 1900.

 

  1. Bruce stated that Paramedic meetings were held earlier this month with the following results:

-         Weekly supply orders are being placed, but Bruce has no control over the delivery time.

-         ALS assists with mutual aid departments should be billed to that ambulance service.

-         Soon there will extra Epinephrine, Atropine and Lidocaine in the airway boxes.

-         A committee has been established to rearrange the drug and airway boxes so they are the same on all trucks.

-         Narcotics have been re-updated.

-         Looking at carrying an alternative to Morphine for patients with allergies to Morphine.

-         EMS training will be a 12 lead refresher class.  All Paramedics will be required to successfully complete a competency exam.

-         Bruce is having problems getting EMS reports completed correctly and in a timely manner.  Even if the computers are down, you must still hand write a report.  It is the officers responsibility to make sure this is done before the end of the shift.

-         Rural Metro has approached Bruce regarding the stationing of a dedicated ambulance at one of our firehouses.  We are ½ run per month away from meeting their requirements.  They are looking at placing a dedicated ambulance in our station and sharing it between White River runs and Greenwood runs.  Greenwood already has a dedicated ambulance at their station 91.

-         Bruce is working on getting Dave Manlove cleared as a Primary Instructor for White River.

-         Bruce is looking for personnel who which to be certified in teaching CPR.

-         Seals Ambulance now has a station in Greenwood, and has supposedly been “jumping runs” with Greenwood FD.  Bruce instructed our relationship with them should be as follows:

·        We are in charge of all scenes.

·        Per the EMS commission, we have a legal contract with Rural Metro Ambulance for all transports.

·        Should Seals arrive on the scene, we should politely and professionally ask them to leave and explain that we must honor our contract with Rural Metro.

·        Bruce emphasized that they are a very reputable company and that should we need them for additional ambulances, by all means, call them!

 

  1. Carey Slauter stated that a memo has been posted instructing house officers to notify the Battaloin Chief if there are problems with equipment.
  2. Bruce stated that anyone knowing the whereabouts of his red leather helmet to please let him know ASAP.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts recently met with the National Loss Prevention Coordinator for our insurance company to discuss various issues.

 

  1. Joel Thacker mentioned that he and Steve Rowland are working on getting toys donated for local kids who are in need this Christmas.  They will be working in conjunction with students from the Center Grove Middle School and will be staffing booths at Target and Meijer.   If you have any questions or would like to help, please see Steve Rowland or Joel Thacker.  Any time at all that you could donate would be greatly appreciated!

 

  1. Joe Settles stated that we are still having a problem with not securing the stations when we are not there.  Bay doors should be down, especially with the bay heaters running.

 

  1. Joe also stated that we are having problems with moving equipment between apparatus.  If trucks are traded out, or a piece of equipment is moved, please let the crews know.  There is a white board in the back bay at station 51 that can be used for issues at that station.  Station 52 and 53 boards are in their kitchens.  Crews need to be sure to check these boards when they work.

 

  1. The next meeting of the Johnson County Firefighters Association will be held December 20th at Trafalgar.  We are currently scheduled to host it in February.

 

  1. Spare SCBA bottles will be taken off of the Tactical and placed on Tanker 53.

 

  1. Steve Rowland requested an EMS kit be placed on the tanker.  Chief Tibbetts will speak with Bruce Alexander about this.

 

  1. Steve Rowland stated that he has been looking at implementing different mapping programs.  Watch for more on this as it develops.

 

  1. Eric Brown stated that we were not able to bill $8,500 to insurance companies in October because no insurance information was obtained!  Be sure to get this!  We can bill for haz mat, car fires and house fires.

 

  1. Kevin Skipper stated that hose testing would be completed soon.  He also requested spare hose be ordered.  Chief Tibbetts will review this.

 

  1. Don’t prop open fire doors at station 53.

 

  1. Permission was requested to move the boats into the far east, back bay at station 53 so that the other bays could be used as drive-thru.  Approved by Chief Tibbetts.

 

  1. Seat belts are not being worn in the apparatus.  This should not be tolerated at all, especially by officers!  When the apparatus is in motion, your seat belt must be on.  Also, when riding in the jump seats of engine 51, helmets and eye protection must be worn!