Ochopee FCD Advisory Board Minutes 06/08/2015 OCHOPEE FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
ON JUNE 8, 2015
CALL TO ORDER:
The Meeting was called to Order by the Chairman Anthony Davis at 4:05PM.
Roll Call of Attendees
Alan McLaughlin, Fire Chief,
Anthony Davis, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Port of the Islands
Ron Gilbert,Advisory Committee Member, Port of the Islands
James Morris,Advisory Committee Member, Port of the Islands
Robert Craig,Advisory Committee Member, Port of the Islands
Jean Kungle,Guest, Port of the Islands
Additions and Deletions to Agenda
No additions or deletions to the Agenda.
Approval of Agenda
A motion was made to approve the Agenda as written it was seconded and passed.
Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of May 11,2015
A motion was made to approve the minutes of May 11, 2015 it was seconded and passed.
REPORTS:
Chief's Report
Budget
Chief McLaughlin — This is the third quarter of the 2015 budget July 1, 2015 will be the
beginning of the fourth quarter. The budget is still on track although there have been a lot of
expenditures. At the end of the fourth quarter he will attach a list of all of the
accomplishments completed within fiscal year 2015. We are still on track with payroll,
however,there will be an increase in payroll expenses retroactive to 45 days for Linda Swisher's
job classification change. She will receive a 10%pay increase.
Chief McLaughlin -So far there have been 38 line of duty Firefighter deaths in the US for 2015
and there have been 9 for the month of May 2015.
Awards, Recognitions&Certifications
None
Page 1
OPERATIONS REPORT:
There were a total of 69 incidents for the month of May 2015. In March and April we had 114%
increase in call volume this current number represents a 48%increase over last year's figures.
Last year's figures were:
From _January of 2014 to when we opened the station on 1-75 we ran 125 calls. Since we
opened the 1-75 station on 11-3-15 to today we have responded to 166 calls. That is 291 calls
just for station 63. We have had a tremendous increase in calls on 1-75 in 2007 we had almost
the same amount of calls on 1-75 and were covering them from the Everglades City Station so
we were putting a lot of millage on the vehicles. Sometimes we were going out there three or
four times a day putting over 300 miles a day on our vehicles.
Chief McLaughlin - There were two mutual aid calls outside of the District one to Broward
County it was a Vehicle Fire at the 50 Mile Marker on 1-75 and one Brush Fire to Greater Naples
Fire District at 52nd and Miller Road. There were no boat rescues for the month of May, 2015.
There were 33 incidents on 1-75; 14 Vehicle Accidents, 2 Vehicle Fires, 6 Emergency Medical
Calls, 1 Grass Fire, 6 Brush Fires, 1 Public Assist, and 3 Smoke Investigations. There were 5 Fire
Inspections conducted by Greater Naples Fire in our District and no Fire Investigations.
There was a question from one of the Advisory Committee Members regarding a patient
transported on Cays Drive and asked if that information was incorporated in the incident
figures given.
Chief McLaughlin — He suggested that maybe in the future the call report could be broken into
zones. Ochopee Fire Control District is divided into four response zones. Zone 61 is covered by
Station 61 and runs from Collier Seminole State Park back passed the Miccosukee village. Zone
60 runs from Chokoloskee Island to 1-75 north to Turner River Road on the East. Zone 66 runs
from Turner River Road to the Dade County Line. Zone 63 runs from the intersection around I-
75 from the 83 mile marker to the 51 mile marker. He can attach a report that shows the calls
in each zone.
OLD BUSINESS:
90% of the LED Light replacement has been completed
Chief McLaughlin—One of our cost saving projects was to replace all our florescent lamps in the
station with LED lamps 90% of this task has been completed. The only areas where the lamps
have not been replaced yet are in the Attack Truck bay, the GYM and a couple in the apparatus
bay which are not used most of the time. He feels we are averaging a savings of$225 a month
which is 18% to 20% of the electric bill for the Everglades City Fire Station. He is talking about
replacing the LED lights at Station 61 in the living areas. He is also considering changing out the
spot lights to LED.
Page 2
FEMA Grant for Smoke Removal Station 60
Chief McLaughlin—We are still waiting to hear if we have been approved for the FEMA Grant
regarding Smoke Removal for Station 60.
Ochopee Fire Control District Request for Services Proposal
Chief McLaughlin—The Advisory Committee is familiar with the proposal
and saw the workshop meeting.
Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant for Foam
Chief McLaughlin —We were approved for the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant now we are in
the process of obtaining quotes to make our purchase.
FDOT 15/16 Budget
Chief McLaughlin—The FDOT 15/16 budget has been completed and is on the Board of County
Commissioners Agenda tomorrow for approval.
Anthony Davis — He welcomed the new Advisory Committee Member Robert Craig. He went
over the Fire Service Request in order to bring Robert Craig up to date. Last fall the Board of
County Commissioners asked for proposals to operate the Isles of Capri Fire Station, Ochopee
Fire Control District and Goodland. Goodland was tossed out of the proposal. Last Tuesday
there was a workshop for the two entities to give their proposal which were Greater Naples Fire
District and Ochopee Fire Control District and there will be a vote tomorrow regarding the
proposal.
NEW BUSINESS:
Update regarding the water system at the 1-75 Station
Chief McLaughlin—He spoke to Dave Morgan on Tuesday the State has procured the funding to
install a larger RO system at the 1-75 Fire Station so hopefully in the next week or two they will
start working on the water system. The State of Florida is going to develop the north side of
the highway as well and will install a million dollar RO system once that takes place to run the
whole site.
Working on 1-75 Station Internet
Chief McLaughlin — At this time Century Link is looking into another option in regards to
providing internet at the 1-75 Fire Station. We have Internet for our computers but our
Dispatching is primarily done by IP addressing and secondary by radio, then VHF and 800 MHZ
paging. Wireless does not work with this system it has to be on a hard wire internet provider.
Page 3
Flag Pole at Station 60
Chief McLaughlin -The flag pole at Station 60 has to be replaced the pole is rusted trough. The
funding will determine whether this repair will take place this budget year 2015 or the next in
2016.
New Base Radio for Station 61
Chief McLaughlin —A new base radio was purchased for the Port of the Islands Fire Station 61
out of the building fund budget.
Acquired Vent Saw from Big Cypress Preserve
Chief McLaughlin—Big Cypress National Preserve purchased the wrong saw they couldn't use it
so it was given to Ochopee Fire Control District. Big Cypress National Preserve needed brush
pants for their personnel so the Chief donated six pairs to them. This was old brush gear that
our Department no longer uses. Ochopee Fire Control District has a MOU with Big Cypress
National Preserve and works closely with them.
2 New MDTs for Engine 60 and 61
Chief McLaughlin-We purchased two MDTs (Mobile Data Systems)for Engines 60 and 61 this is
part of the new Dispatch System. The Tough Book computers were refurbished with a one year
warrantee at a purchase price of$1400 each which was a large savings this type of computer
new would be $3200 each. These computers were purchased to be used with the new
software that will be installed in the fall the old equipment is not compatible.
Renewed Big Cypress MOU
Chief McLaughlin - The Big Cypress National Preserve MOU was renewed within the five year
agreement there is a yearly renewal which was just completed.
Reduced Verizon expense by removing 6 accounts
Chief McLaughlin — We made a significant reduction on our Verizon bill of $220 a month by
removing 6 accounts. We have streamlined the account by removing items that are no longer
being used.
Yearly Apparatus Testing
Chief McLaughlin—The yearly apparatus testing should be completed within a month.
We are a month behind on these tests. The yearly hydrant checks have been completed.
Page 4
Anthony Davis—Does the District paint the fire hydrants?
Chief McLaughlin—Who ever owns the hydrant is responsible for painting and maintaining the
hydrant we inspect them. We painted the hydrants in Everglades City a couple of years ago
because the City couldn't afford to and they were the wrong color. The hydrants in Port of the
Islands are a different color because of the recycled water.
Chief McLaughlin — Still working on Assistant Chief's Office at the Everglades Fire Station
hopefully by the end of July his new office will be completed and his old office remodeled into a
bunk room.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jean Kungle thanked the Chief and the personnel for all their hard work and wished him luck in
regards to the BCC decision tomorrow.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting it was seconded and passed the meeting ended at
4:45PM.
7
c .F fir,
nthon D vis, hairman
hop Fire Control District Advisory Committee
Page 5