White River Township Fire Department

                                                Senior Staff Meeting

           

                                                Thursday, December 7, 2006

 

 

                       

Present:

Chief Tibbetts

Chief Brown

Capt. Hart

 

Chief Cassin

Chief Thacker

Capt. Arkins

 

Chief Slauter

Chief Engmark

Capt. Settles

 

Chief Wilson

Capt. Skipper

Crystal Young

 

 

 

  1. Meeting called to order at 0800.

 

  1. Jordan Russell (Paramedic course back-pay) - Chief Thacker
    1. He has taken a Paramedic course of which the department has paid for and he failed.  He has subsequently quit.  Chief Thacker would like to pursue him to pay back the money for the class. (Policy backs up)  The department has also paid for some equipment (stethoscope, scrubs, books, etc.) and his check is a drop in the bucket for the amount of money that has been paid out.  Chief Engmark is not even sure he will be getting a check.
    2. Chief Tibbetts would like to see the policy amended especially for part-time, that if they do not pass everything is paid back, class and equipment and possibly staying with the department for a year after the class has been taken.
    3. Chief Tibbetts also inquired about the honor guard equipment.  Engmark replied that we have not gotten the stuff back from him yet and stated that he is still working in Pittsboro.  Chief Thacker stated that he and Nelson have been in communication.

 

  1. Annual Division Reports for Accreditation – Chief Slauter
    1. Each division needs to do reports to the Fire Chief.  (admin, training, operations, prevention)  The report should review activities throughout the year; goals met and stated goals for the new year.
    2. EMS – Should Mark write is own, yes but it would fall under operations.  Building maintenance would be done through Chief Cassin while Apparatus maintenance would be through Chief Slauter.
    3. Cadets would be covered by Chief Thacker.

 

  1. Retreat – Chief Thacker
    1. The 12 & 13 are the dates that have been set.  Chief Engmark leaves on the 13th but would be able to participate for part of the day on the 12th.

 

  1. SOG Updates – Chief Slauter
    1. NIMS – review and give any corrections to Chief Wilson.  Reference to, last definition and implement in training.  ICS forms after.
    2. WMD – Scott Tichenor (if any corrections give to Chief Slauter)
    3. Aircraft Emergency – Chief Slauter did not receive any feedback so he assumed it was okay.
    4. Chief Slauter stated that MO department had several SOG issues.  There were some that were signed on Friday so when they arrived on Monday there was no way the whole department could have seen or discussed the contents of the SOGs.

                                                              i.      He made a suggestion that Chief Wilson be made the SOG Czar.  That he should look through all of them and update and correct any that need it.

                                                            ii.      Chief Thacker then suggested that they be grouped together that SOGs with similar material be put together and attach all forms.

 

  1. Year-end Spending
    1. MSA has a newer version than 5200.  This version is still within the 2007 budget and comes with a free monitor.
    2. Station 51 & 52 will be getting a bit saw and 51 will be getting a new chain saw.  The current chain saw will be used as a loaner.
    3. Tact 53 will be getting a new generator.  We may be able to get two of them and put one on another truck.

 

  1. Radio Equipment feature availability – Mike Combs
    1. He will be doing a major reprogramming of the equipment and would like any suggestions on the programming to him by e-mail by Monday.
    2. There will be two changes:  Greenwood will move to the top and there will be a Med Channel.
    3. There are three systems:  ours, Mecca, and Mecca system 2 which will be going digital in spring of ’08.  This will constitute a change but the new radios will work.
    4. There will be no other Admin in our radios.  Chief Tibbetts gave a list to Mike.

                                                              i.      District Fire, EMS, and four channels.  They are currently taking talk groups away.  1D & 2D digital channels were given to us to try out.

    1. If something happens to our system we will be able to use Mecca but dispatch will not be there.  You will only be able to talk among selves.  Could the Mecca talk groups be put on console?  No, but we could give them a radio.  Mecca is under new management.
    2. Everyone needs to think of new features that they would want.  Morgan Cty will be on line in the new year.

                                                              i.      Omni Link, state wide talk group that will work anywhere.  G, J, I, L, M regions in zone 8 are statewide.

                                                            ii.      Boone Cty talk group would have to switch.

                                                          iii.      Chief Thacker stated that in the NIMS class that he attended they used the statewide talk groups and they worked well.

                                                           iv.      Chief Slauter suggested that the toggle switch be disconnected because the strap rubs it.  This will change the zone or talk group.  IFD has a lock feature.

                                                             v.      On Mecca talk group you can scan Johnson Cty but Johnson Cty cannot scan Mecca.

    1. Everyone’s radio head will be changed to the 05 head.  The Battalion and trucks will be first.

 

  1. New T-shirt Design – Mike Combs
    1. He has a suggestion that the department look into a new design for t-shirts for the new year.   He handed out several different looks to consider through Redline Apparel.  They will do three colors with no extra charge, no set up fees and approximately $.50 savings per shirt.  Redline was just rewarded the contract for IFD.
    2. Chief Slauter asked Mike who he sampled.  He stated that there were just a few, Chiefs’ Engmark, Thacker, and Cassin, Capt. Hart and some of the guys at Station 52.

 

  1. Chief Tibbetts brought up the fact that it is almost Christmas time and time to draw names. 
    1. Chief Slauter made a motion to donate the money to an organization instead to be in the spirit of Christmas.
    2. Chief Thacker stated that it is still important that the Senior Staff do something together to establish cohesiveness.  That it is important to get together and relax some place other than Staff meetings and that the Captains are involved as well.
    3. December 22 is the next meeting so between now and then we need to decide what to do.  Chief Tibbetts suggests that the money go to the toy drive.  (Capt. Skipper stated that there are 79 kids and all of them will be getting hats and gloves.)
    4. One suggestion was to get with the United Way and buy Christmas Dinner or food for a family.  Chief Slauter and Capt. Skipper will work together to find someone and get back with everyone.

 

  1.  Decon Trailer – Capt. Arkins
    1. The trailer is getting the last few things done and will be in service soon.
    2. It has finally been decided that the trailer belongs to WRTFD so we can register it and get the proper tags.

 

  1. Greenwood Dispatch – Chief Engmark
    1. Chief Engmark has been working with Sean to get everything ironed out.  He has given it to Chief Slauter to review.  Chief Slauter stated that he had a couple of minor changes but mostly it looked great.
    2. There will be new box alarm #’s.
    3. Once this has been finalized it will be brought to the Senior Staff and heavy training will begin.

 

  1. Chief Thacker
    1. House burns with Bargersville

                                                              i.      M, T, W, but will meet on Friday to finalize plans.

                                                            ii.      There will be five burns a day.  Everyone will need to rotate crews, especially with those who have had little exposure to burns.

    1. Awards Banquet will be January 27th.

                                                              i.      Food choice looks like it will be number 3.

                                                            ii.      He would like help in securing gifts, gas cards, and other purchases along with donations.  Donely, FF Credit Union (Pat Wilmoth), Skillman, Towers, FF Ins, Police & Fire Ins and Community Hospital are some places to contact for donations.

                                                          iii.      On this day no one is to stay on station.  Everyone will attend since the location is so close.

                                                           iv.      JUGS will be catering.  They have a mobile commercial kitchen and will cook the food on site.

                                                             v.      Awards

1.      E52 crew, B-shift run more than likely the run of the year.

2.      FF and Officer of the year are voted on.

3.      EMT, Paramedic of the year

4.      Trade Award

5.      Prevention Awards

6.      Swearing in of Fraker and Saucier.

7.      Chief Award

8.      Service Award (5, 10, 15)

9.      Capt. Hart believes that Paramedic of the year should be Wiseman but is not sure of the EMT so he would like some feedback.

 

  1. Christmas Toy Drive – Capt. Skipper
    1. He has a Christmas sign up that is not too full.  The Battalions will be sending a crew to fill in.
    2. One family has been chosen by Lt. Hurrle and Peterman along with the fire department to be taken care of.

 

  1. Random Drug Testing
    1. Look into a proposal at the beginning of the year.
    2. Midwest Fire & Safety runs a program that takes the names and they decide how many and how often the tests need to be conducted.
    3. This should be department wide, FT & PT.  It is a 10 panel drug screen.

 

  1. Full Time Process
    1. The hang up is Wiseman.
    2. The problem with starting a new list now is that the current one would be wiped clean.  That would leave Woehlecke to have to go through the process again.  We still have a year on the current list so it will be put on hold for now.
    3. Chief Wilson is in need of two people on shift and Chief Engmark is in need of one.  The next guys on the list are young without a lot of experience but they are excited and have good attitudes.

 

  1. Capt. Hart
    1. He has a third meeting with Daren and Stacy for an ambulance in Greenwood.  It is becoming more frequent that several times a day Greenwood and WRT are getting calls at the same time, increasing response times.
    2. Dispatch is sharing a medic more often and it is becoming clear that a new ambulance is needed.
    3. They will be meeting again to get it worked out.  The ambulance will probably be stationed at 93 or 94, somewhere out east.
    4. There is new paramedic stuff for the new class in February.  It is geared around FT people, but if we cannot get someone we might want to look at the PT people.  This may be the last year Community will give us a free spot.  It will not be full price but it will cost something the next class.
    5. Monitors will start being rotated and maintenance.

 

  1. Meeting called at 0920.