MINUTES OF THE SPIRIT LAKE FIRE COMMISSIONERS

 REGULAR MEETING

—————————March 16, 2011 ——————————

32168 N. 6thAvenue, Spirit Lake, Idaho at 4:00 PM (PST)

 

 CALL TO ORDER:

 

COMMISSIONER MILLER called meeting to order at 4:00PM

 

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Commissioner Mark Miller, Commissioner Chuck Hodge, & Commissioner Tom Russell

 

OTHERS PRESENT: Firefighters: Earl Frates, Andy Hill, Todd Bryan, Jamie Adams & John Bartholomew; and Bookkeeper Brandy Browning.

Also present Michael Gow, IAFF Representative.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Was led by Commissioner Hodge.

 

1. Approval of Minutes (4:00 PM):

 

COMMISSIONER MILLER motioned to approve the minutes from 2/16/2011 and 3/2/2011 as written; seconded by COMMISSIONER HODGE and a vote of aye by all.

 

Motion carried.

 

 

2. Firefighter Report (4:05 PM):

 

The Commissioners reviewed the monthly Firefighter report for January: 29 medical calls (114 year to date), 13 fire calls (49 year to date), and 5 motor vehicle calls (15 year to date).

 

Firefighter Andy Hill reported he had been looking over the chairs in the training room. He threw away quite a few chairs and repaired those that he could. He thinks that we will need to purchase roughly 12 new chairs a year and that we need 35 chairs total. The chairs cost about $27.00 a piece (4 for $105). He will be working this cost into his Building Budget for Fiscal Year 2012. He also stated that Chief’s office chair is in disrepair and needs to be replaced.

 

The Commissioner’s and Firefighter Hill also discussed an addition to Chief DeBernardi’s and Fire Marshal Nowacki’s Office. The discussion was tabled so that the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal can give their input.

 

The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief were out due to illness.  Neither a Fire Marshal Report nor Fire Chief Report was available for the meeting.

 

 

3. FICA Taxes (4:20 PM):

 

            Mike Gow, IAFF Representative, came before the Commission to explain Idaho HB 233 that is currently being considered by the Idaho Legislature. HB 233 would allow the Idaho State Controller access to PERSI records that are currently considered protected information. The hope is that if HB 233 passes then the Idaho Governor will allow a referendum to go to vote that would allow the Firefighters of Idaho to opt out of Social Security. The Union is requesting that the District complete a 941x for each of the quarters in 2007. The 941x will protect all social security monies paid on behalf of or by the firefighters; if the firefighters do in fact vote to opt out of Social Security they will receive back their Social Security monies for 2007 if a 941x is completed on their behalf. There was a short discussion regarding Social Security. The Commissioners all expressed their concerns not only in regards to the financial ramifications for the individual firefighters but also the cost of completing each of the 941xs for the District.

 

                        COMMISSIONER HODGE motioned to have the bookkeeper complete                 941x for each of the quarters in 2007. Seconded by COMMISSIONER                MILLER and a vote of aye by all.

 

Motion Passed.

 

 

4. Raffle (5:10 PM):

 

                The raffle truck currently has a 200 gallon tank installed, which belongs to Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). The Commission requested that Chief DeBernardi call IDL to see if they would sell the District the tank. If not the Commission asked that a replacement 200 gallon water tank is purchased for the truck. Brandy will pass this message on to Chief. It was also agreed that the District will compile a list of all equipment that is on loan from IDL.

 

                Replacement decals also need to be purchased and installed on the Raffle Truck so that it appears as it does in the Raffle Flyers. Brandy will take care of purchasing the decals.

 

 

5. EMS/Ambulance District Boundaries (5:30 PM):

 

                COMMISSIONER HODGE reported to the Commission that he would like to begin working with Bonner County to make it so that the Fire Districts EMS and Ambulance Boundaries match. There was a short discussion held, Commissioner Hodge will begin to work on drawing up an MOU to allow for the boundary change.

 

 

 

 

6. Clagstone Rd. (5:45 PM):

 

                COMMISSIONER HODGE explained that Bonner County owns property at 1508 Clagstone Road. He also explained that there was a possibility that the District could build a Fire Station on the property. Currently Station 3 is located on a piece of property that the District Leases from IDL. The lease is about to expire and will need to be renegotiated this year. The District pays 1401.09 a year under the current lease. However, IDL could substantially increase this amount. The Commission discussed the property and agreed to negotiate with IDL but to also begin looking for other possible locations for Station 3.

 

 

 

7. Training (6:25 PM):

 

                Brandy reported that the North Idaho Workforce Training Center has a couple more classes available in their Leadership Series. The Commission discussed the classes and all remarked that they wanted to encourage and make training classes available to Captain Frates and the Lieutenants-in-Training Bartholomew and Morales. The classes will not be required but will be made available to those individuals.

               

 

8. ADJOURNMENT (6:45 PM):

 

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the Regular Meeting was adjourned upon the motion of COMMISSIONER HODGE and as seconded by COMMISSIONER MILLER AT 6:45 PM.

 

COMMISSIONER MILLER called for the vote and all were in agreement to the motion.  No roll call voted was taken.

 

Motion carried.

 

 

_________________________________________

Spirit Lake Fire Protection District, Fire Commissioners

 

 

Attest:

 

 

_________________________________________

Brandy Browning, Bookkeeper