MINUTES

PUBLIC HEARING

AND

REGULAR MEETING

NORTH BANNOCK FIRE DISTRICT

NBFD FIRE STATION - 444 E Chubbuck Road

April 9, 2020

PUBLIC HEARING

The Public Hearing was opened by Alan Curtis at 6:07 PM.

Roll call – Alan Curtis; Debra Shell and Roy Allen (by video link)

ACTION ITEM: A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Debra Shell to approve NBFD Resolution No. 2020-02 to adopt the International Fire Code for fire code enforcement. The motion passed unanimously.

The public hearing was closed at 6:12 PM.

REGULAR MEETING

The Regular Meeting was opened by Alan Curtis.

Roll call – Alan Curtis: Debra Shell and Roy Allen (by video link); Fire Chief JR Farnsworth; Assistant Chief Mark Brood (by video link)

ACTION ITEMS

• • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Debra Shell to approve the agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

  • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Roy Allen to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2020 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

TREASURER REPORT

The treasurer, Alan Curtis, reported the following balances:

ICCU savings account - $40.026.31

ICCU checking account - $150,006.75

Connections Credit Union checking account- $100,749.43

Connections Credit Union savings account - $25.00.

ICCU credit card balance - $496.35

To date $347,432.45 has been spent this fiscal year. This is within the budget for FY 2019-2020.

FIRE CHIEF REPORT

Fire Chief Farnsworth gave his report. There were 11 calls in March including an EMS assist, vehicle fire, sparking power pole, unauthorized burning, traffic crashes, broken gas line, and CO/smoke detector alarms. There were several community activities. The fire department was assisting with the shopping for the elderly and others with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department is among multiple agencies working with the Southeast Idaho Public Health to coordinate the COVID-19 response. The fire department is now working in Community Quarantine Support collecting and distributing paper products for those in need. Following the guidelines of the CDC the volunteer firefighters are required to wear cloth masks when at the station or on non-fire calls. The department has received a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for 3 MSA Evolution 6000 Thermal Imaging Cameras. This has a value of about $22,000.

ACTION ITEMS:

• • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Roy Allen to decline the opportunity to rent the house at 446 E Chubbuck Road which will become real property of the fire district when the final payment for the property is made in 2121. The motion passed unanimously.

  • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Debra Shell to accept the fire department budget for the remainder of the FY 2019-2020 as presented. The motion passed unanimously. This excludes labor costs and capital purchases which are included in the fire district budget. The budget of $56,367.49 will cover the remainder of FY2019-2020. The fire chief will be allowed to expend the budget as needed; the expenditures will be reviewed monthly by the commissioners. The total operational budget for the fire department was $111,878.00.

• • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Debra Shell to authorize the expenditure of $4,355.00 for the online training program and $180.00 for video conferencing software. The motion passed with Alan Curtis voting no. This is an online training service by Target Solutions to better streamline online training as well as track the hours per firefighter.

  • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Debra Shell to authorize the expenditure of $8,638.00 for road signage on Chubbuck Road for the fire station. The motion passed unanimously. This does not include the cost of providing power to the sign.

• • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Alan Curtis to postpone a decision regarding providing disability insurance coverage for the firefighters. The motion passed unanimously. More information is needed.

• • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Alan Curtis to postpone a decision regarding the provision of PERSI retirement benefits for the fire chief and training office for a year. The motion passed unanimously. The commissioners would like to provide this benefit in the future, but financial constraints prevent it at this time.

  • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Debra Shell to approve the reimbursement of $425.34 to the fire chief for the use of his personal vehicle as Command 1 for the 2nd quarter. The motion passed unanimously.

  • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Alan Curtis to authorize the repairs of Brush 22 and the annual NFPA inspections. The motion passed unanimously.

  • A motion was made by Roy Allen and seconded by Debra Shell to authorize the expenditure of $989.36 for the purchase of the intake valve for E11. The motion passed unanimously.

  • There was a discussion of property on Nottingham Lane, which had been offered to the fire district free of charge for the 2nd fire station. It has been decided that it is not an optimal location and there is a very steep drive to the property which could pose a problem in the winter. Therefore, the owner will be advised of the decline of the offer. The offer was appreciated. Other property sites will be investigated.

TRAINING REPORT

The report was presented by Assistant Chief Brood by video link. Training has been moved to the online platform due to the COVID-19. Most of the wildland training had been completed. The FF1 program has started with an anticipated completion date of July 8th. The platoons are meeting in small groups for hands on training as much as possible. HIPAA training has been completed enabling the department to assist Bannock County EMS.

ACTION ITEMS:

• • There was a discussion of the final assessed value of property in the fire district. The total value is $480,702,000. The taxable property value is $356,238,538. The Legislature has made some changes in the L-2. There is to be a workshop regarding the changes.

  • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Roy Allen to hold the budget hearing for the FY2020-2021 budget on August 13, 2020. The motion passed unanimously. Deb Shell is to look up the requirements for advertising the budget, etc. Alan Curtis will send the required form for the budget hearing to the county.

  • Alan Curtis is working with the fire chief to set up the FY2020-2021 budget. Deb Shell is to research the requirements regarding the forgone monies and the need to advertise. A decision will be made at the May meeting regarding whether to pursue the forgone monies of $272.

  • There was a discussion of legislative action concerning the levy adjustments. No laws were passed. However, an interim study committee for levy adjustments has been established and it seems likely that action will be taken at the next legislative session. This action will be followed by the commissioners.

  • It was acknowledged that Dr Jeremy Hale, a chiropractor, is offering his service free of charge to the fire fighters and commissioners.

  • There were no fire district invoices to be approved.

  • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Roy Allen to approve the fire department credit card charges as listed below. The motion passed unanimously.

Shell – Jackson’s (fuel) $247.03

Home Depot (batteries) $16.98

Home Depot (lumber) $348.44

Advance Auto Parts (fuel cans) $59.97

Public Safety Center (wildland shirts) $173.99

Tri-Electronics (pager charger cords) $47.25

• • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Debra Shell to authorize the payment of the fire department invoices as listed below. The motion passed unanimously.

L N Curtis (truck equipment) $10,329.93

Idaho Dept of Lands (truck equipment) $1,797.40

Idaho Dept of Lands (PPEs) $2,653.30

MES (truck equipment) $44.91

Weidner (truck equipment) $4,635.12

Office Depot (shop/office supplies) $122.37

K & M Repair (vehicle maintenance) $3,729.19

SLT Graphics (uniforms) $3,276.00

American Trade Mark (truck equipment) $893.39

NEW BUSINESS

The DEQ is requesting a cessation of burning of all materials. Ft Hall and Pocatello Fire have prohibited burning. The NBFD will initiate a burn ban beginning on April 10, 2020.

Josiah Dahlstrom, the President of the NBFD Firefighters Association, gave a brief presentation highlighting the community activities of the association and emphasizing the comradery of the firefighters.

The next meeting will be May 14, 2020 at 6:00 PM.

• • A motion was made by Alan Curtis and seconded by Roy Allen to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 PM. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectively submitted,

June Heilman, Secretary