Regular Meeting

March 10, 2022, 5:30pm

NORTH BANNOCK FIRE DISTRICT

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES


NBFD Fire Station – 444 E. Chubbuck Road

March 10, 2022 @ 5:30 pm

  1. OPEN MEETING - Meeting was opened at 5:31pm by Board President Shell.

  1. ROLL CALL - Commissioner Shell, Commissioner Curtis, Commissioner Johnson, Chief Brood and Board Secretary Ramirez were present at the meeting.


  1. ACTION ITEMS:

    1. Approval of agenda - Commissioner Curtis moved and was seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the amended agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

    2. Approval of minutes of February 10, 2022 regular meeting - Commissioner Johnson moved and was seconded by Commissioner Curtis to approve the minutes. The motion passed unanimously.


  1. TREASURER REPORT

    1. ICCU Checking statement balance - $724,819.84

    2. ICCU Savings statement balance - $40,111.32

    3. Connections Checking statement balance - $0.00

    4. Connections Savings statement balance - $25.00


  1. FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT

    1. In the month of February, we responded to four calls. 1 – Car fire that was canceled due to no fire, 1 – Illegal burn (Power County), 2 – Carbon Monoxide detector calls.

    2. We have 23 volunteer members.

    3. We received our 2007 Freightliner Tender. Necessary equipment has been ordered and graphics will be added on Thursday. The truck has been registered and insured. As soon as training and pass-offs are complete, the tender will go into service, hopefully by April 1.

    4. Still waiting on the proposed property to be marked with the property lines so the chief can propose a few building options/placement. The chief included a draft station drawing for future discussion.

    5. Cameras are needed on the outside of our station so we can monitor any suspicious activity of someone entering the area/station that should not be.

    6. The chief noticed the roof of the rental house has been damaged and we will need to repair or replace. The chief will request 3 bids to replace the roof.


  1. TRAINING REPORT

    1. We have concluded our Wildland Fire in class and online training. We have an upcoming field day as well as an Arduous Pack test to complete all of the requirements and make sure all of our members are prepared for the upcoming Wildland season.

    2. This month we are conducting Tender Operations as well as FF Mayday/Survival training.

    3. Burn House update: We are still waiting on the homeowner’s paperwork.


  1. FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

    1. Morale is good with the firefighters. Some are getting good jobs in the service.

    2. They are excited about the new tender.

    3. Fundraisers are going well.

      1. AmVet breakfast

      2. Street signs that can be sold to homeowners. 6x24 will have street numbers and department logo.


  1. ACTION ITEMS:

    1. Approval of monies received - Commissioner Johnson made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Curtis to approve the monies received. The motion passed unanimously.

Bannock County (Taxes Received) - $15,585.09

Vickie Warner (Rent Received) - $400.00

  1. Authorization of payment of fire district invoices - Commissioner Curtis made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the payment of the district invoices. The motion passed unanimously.

The Accounting Office - $100.00

Deaton & Company - $5,897.49

ICRMP - $5,145.00

State Insurance Fund - $781.00

Ft. Hall Irrigation - $118.75

  1. Authorization of payment of fire department invoices - Commissioner Johnson made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Curtis to approve the payment of the department invoices. The motion passed unanimously.

Day Wireless Systems - $393.14

  1. Approval of auto pay invoices

    1. Commissioner Curtis made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the autopay invoices. The motion passed unanimously.

Sparklight - $72.24

Idaho Power - $177.00

City of Chubbuck - $208.86

Intermountain Gas - $217.00

FirstNet - $267.88

  1. It was determined that the FirstNet bill should be moved from the autopay section to Commissioner Curtis’ credit card as the FirstNet account is autopaid using the department credit card.

  1. Approval of credit card charges - Commissioner Curtis made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the credit card charges. The motion passed unanimously.

Budget Motel - $390.00

Jacksons - $176.15

The FireStore - $3,246.72

  1. Approval of volunteer stipend payments

    1. 1st quarter stipends presented for approval.

    2. Need to get W9 and email address from each firefighter to set up payment. Contact list to be provided for Wednesday training and W9 will be emailed to the firefighters to fill out. Blank W9s will be available at the training as well.

    3. Commissioner Curtis made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the volunteer stipend payments. The motion passed unanimously.

  2. Status of acquisition of land for a second station

    1. Survey conducted but land has not been staked out. Should happen on the 17th.

    2. Parcel subdivision needs to be added to the final sales contract stating that the seller is responsible for subdividing the land with the county. Also a cleanup by the seller should be in the final agreement.

    3. Neighbor to the east is not against the station being built, but wanted us to know that there is a sewer line 260 feet south of Pocatello Creek Road. An easement may be needed. There is also a city vault in the northeast corner. Again another easement may be needed.

    4. Commissioner Shell will contact the seller and let them know about the subdivision and about the staking out of the land on the 17th.

  3. Discussion of stipend for volunteers

    1. Stipends will be dependent on meeting training hours not actual calls. Each firefighter is expected to do 15 training hours per month and will include hands-on and online training.

    2. 100% training = $120.00, 75% training = $90.00, 50% training = $ 60.00, < 50%, no stipend.

    3. All hours will be submitted at the Commissioner’s meeting following the payment schedule. Payment schedule:

      1. 1st Quarter: October 1st 2021 – December 31st 2021 would have been submitted January 13th 2022

      2. 2nd Quarter: January 1st – March 31st - Submitted April 14th

      3. 3rd Quarter: April 1st – June 30th - Submitted July 14th

      4. 4th Quarter: July 1st – September 30th - Submitted October 13th

  4. Selection of auditor

    1. Deaton has raised the costs of the audit each year. Next year’s estimate is for $6,400 + costs.

    2. Wipfli in Idaho Falls provided two options

      1. A 1-year engagement, the fee would be a range of $7,500-8,000 with additional costs such as travel and meals for an on-site visit, or other items charged separately. Wipfli anticipates at least 1 on-site visit, especially for the first year. They also often attend the final commissioners meeting to present the financials and answer any immediate questions.

      2. Another option is to sign a 3-year engagement. The fee for each of the three years would be a flat $7,000.

      3. The fee also includes year-round access to Wipfli via phone or email for basic questions and concerns, and to discuss any other research or projects we may need.

      4. Commissioner Johnson made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Curtis to choose Wipfli as the new auditor for the district taking the 3 year option. The motion passed unanimously.


  1. PUBLIC COMMENT - None


  1. NEW BUSINESS

    1. The county is automatically charging a $250 inspection fee even if the project doesn’t need a new inspection. It is automated by the county auditor. There is not a need for the homeowners to be paying extra fees when an inspection is not needed. There is a possibility to refund this fee directly to the homeowners. The commissioners agreed and a resolution should be written allowing the chief to refund fees at his discretion to the homeowners. The resolution will be on the April agenda.

    2. New sales tax instead of property taxes and how they will affect the district. The commissioners will contact legislators and trade organizations to see if there is additional information on the impact this change would have and what could be done about it.


  1. ADJOURNMENT - Commissioner Johnson made a motion and was seconded by Commissioner Curtis to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:54pm.


Respectfully Submitted,

Todd Ramirez, Board Secretary