White River Township Fire Department

                                    Senior Staff Meeting

           

                                    Thursday, February 10, 2005

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Tibbetts

Chief Cassin

Chief Slauter

Chief Wilson

Chief Brown

Chief Thacker

Chief Engmark

Kim Clawson

 

 

  1. Chief Engmark has a list of potential drivers for the TSU.  He will get to Chief Tibbetts today.

 

  1. Chief Slauter reported that the TSU would be in service this weekend.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that the door codes on the entrance doors at all three stations will be changed soon.  Some items have come up missing at station 51.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts stated that personnel will no longer be allowed to take the pool car to class.  Chief Thacker suggested creating a policy for use of pool cars.  Chief Tibbetts stated that this would be done when Chief Cassin returned from vacation.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts is following a house bill that allows fire protection districts to obtain emergency loans.  There has been some discussion that this bill will be dropped.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts asked Chief Engmark to make sure his crews know how to switch the radios to Perry’s frequency in the event of a mutual aid run.

 

  1. Chief Thacker gave a training update:
    1. We have obtained three homes in the district for training.
    2. The old Marsh store (550 N. St. Rd. 135) has been “loaned” to us as well.

 

  1. Chief Thacker gave an update on the part time process.
    1. Today is the last day for interviews.
    2. Chiefs Thacker and Slauter will discuss staffing needs and present a list of names to Chief Tibbetts.

 

  1. Chief Thacker gave an update on the full time process.
    1. Today is the last day to pick up applications.
    2. Fifteen have gone out.

 

  1. Chief Engmark has been having Captain Skipper serve as the battalion on their shift so he can receive training and become comfortable in the battalion role.  Chief Engmark asked what needed to be done to formally accept Skipper as a back up battalion chief.  Chief Slauter stated that as long as Chief Engmark is comfortable with Skipper filling in, that is fine with him.  Chief Slauter suggested that a formal checklist/policy be implemented for clearance to work as the battalion.  All agreed.  Chief Thacker will work with Chief Slauter on developing a “succession process”.

 

  1. Chief Slauter addressed the 2005 fire grant.  He suggested applying for funding for radios.  No one had any objections.  Chief Thacker stated that we really needed to get NIMS certified and explained that procedure.  He will try to get the 2 day class scheduled here late February or very early March.  Everyone needs to plan to attend this…it’s very important!!  (See him with any questions on the NIMS class.)  Chief Tibbetts suggested forming a committee for the radio grant.  Chief Slauter will head this committee, which will consist of Mike Combs and Chief Engmark.  Kim also suggested involving Chief Cassin for financial input/direction as much as his schedule will allow.

 

  1. Kim stated that the 2004 grant project is officially over, as of last week.  Chief Cassin contacted officials requesting that we be allowed to outfit our headquarters with the communications/wireless system that we had proposed.  They denied our request, stating that if we had stated in our grant that we would outfit three stations, that we needed to outfit all three stations.  Obviously this was not possible for the $30,000 they were going to award, plus our $27,000 that we had agreed to commit to the project.

 

  1. Chief Brown stated that Johnson County Planning officials are unhappy with our architectural firm.  They have presented Senefeld with a 2 pg list of problems that need to be addressed.  Chief Brown also stated that there were some issues raised regarding changes to the square footage of the building.  Chief Slauter stated that the building footprint has not changed since the project began.  The committee will meet Thursday, 2/17 at 0800 here at Headquarters.  Chief Slauter requested everyone to make a “wish list” for radios/communications items and get it to him before the 17th.  Kim requested that funding justification bullet items also be included on this list.

 

  1. Chief Brown stated that there may be some complaints voiced from developers and other people from the county regarding the proposed Fire Ordinance.  Everything is based on existing codes or common practices (in the case of turning radius for cul-de-sacs, as an example).  Please forward these to Chief Tibbetts or Chief Brown.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts reported that the Johnson County Commissioners, at their last meeting, formed a committee to address dispatch problems.  Chief Tibbetts is trying to get on this committee.  Remember to make an incident report any time you have a dispatch problem and forward it to Chief Slauter.  Remind your officers to do this as well.

 

  1. Kim reported that the maps are very close to being done and should be on the trucks by the end of next week, at the latest.