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Ochopee FCD Advisory Board Minutes 08/13/2012OCHOPEE FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 13, 2012 The following were in attendance: Alan McLaughlin, Fire Chief, Ochopee Fire Control District Caleb Morris, Captain, Ochopee Fire Control District Ronald Gilbert, Chairman, Port of the Islands Advisory Board Member Tony Davis, Port of the Islands Advisory Board Member Frank Hawkins, Port of the Islands Advisory Board Member McBeth Collins, Everglades City Advisory Board Member James Simmons is on vacation The meeting came to order at 4PM then there was a roll call of attendees. Approval of minutes for 7 -9 -12: The minutes were approved as read. OLD BUSINESS FEMA & DOF Grant Updates: p 9WN ..,j L I BY: ....................... Fiala Hiller Henning �- Coyle Colette Chief McLaughlin — We were approved by the board to apply for the DOF Grant and it will be for Foam. The FEMA Grant has been submitted at the end of June for radios that is a 95/5 matching grant. We are requesting $38,000 to replace all radios and bring them up to standards. We lost another radio is failed on us they are 15 to 20 years old that is an exceptional life expectancy out of a service radio. This is the third radio we've lost in seven months and it can't be repaired. One was damaged and we did get an insurance claim on that one the covered about 80% of the replacement cost. The only way we can replace these radios is through a grant. Captain Morris — The new radios are submersible if you drop them in a puddle it won't ruin them. Tony Davis — When you say the split is 95/5 they give us 95% and we pay 5 %. Page 1 Misc. Corres: Date: %-O k \ Kz� Item '2-'R 1 a Copies to: Chief McLaughlin — Yes and it has been built into the budget. We put in for the FEMA Grant last year and we were turned down. He spoke with a person who had been on the grant assessment team and realized that we presented our budget incorrectly on the grant it did not show the need. So this year he followed the suggestion of the assessment team member. He submitted the SAFER Grant for Ochopee and Isles of Capri. He asked for six personnel for Ochopee and four people for Capri. The SAFER Grant is 100% funded and it is for personnel only. There are three criteria for that grant re -hire laid off firefighters, retention of volunteers and to add firefighters to meet the minimum national standards per NFPA 1710. We used the 1710 rule giving us six personnel. We did an after -the —fact approval because the board in recess. The County Manager read over the application and signed a memo approving the submittal. The application was submitted electronically 8- 10 -12. That grant opened on the 16th of July and closed last week. There is a very short time period to apply for the grant. There was a lot of research that had to be done we didn't even know if we could apply for it. We will have to create a whole new cost center to pay these employees because they will be contracted. There are a lot of stipulations as to how the grant money is to be used and how these people will be paid. The minimum is it will give us three people all the time on the Engine at Port of the Islands. There was an KIST report out that stated a three man company has a 25% increase in his productivity regarding his fire ground performance over a two man and four man company. Both grants are closed and they start awarding them in the fall which would be October. The 1 -75 Stake Holders Meeting for today was canceled because the construction is still in contest. We are not sure who is contesting. We also have a little hiccup with FDOT they are saying there is no money after the County has expended over $25,000 in their plans. The County Manager sent a letter to Johnny Limbaugh at FDOT for District One. He gave Mr. Summers and me the go ahead to meet with some of the legislators that signed this legislature. We have a meeting tomorrow with Senator Richter in his office and I think he will be contacting the Governor because he signed the bill. We think what happened was the FDOT Official that was heading this up is on leave and undergoing cancer treatment. Whoever they moved up into that position decided it was not a priority and wants to move the money somewhere else well that was not in the plan. So we are looking for some legislative action on this. There is plenty of money they raised the toll and they said they didn't need their Southwest Florida Water Management money which was over three million dollars. NEW BUSINESS Len Price Inspection of Fire Stations & 1 -75 MM 63 Site on 8- 17 -12: Chief McLaughlin — We have a new Administrator Len Price she th was scheduled to come out on the 17 but that was canceled and changed to the 20th. Len has been with the County a long time she oversees IT, Facilities, Purchasing Risk Management, Parks and Recreation, and Emergency Services. She oversees seven divisions, directors and administrators. Tony Davis — Did she replace the lady who left parks and recreation. Page 2 Chief McLaughlin — No, she is over her. Tony Davis — I thought that lady left. Chief McLaughlin — She did but Steve Carnell who was in purchasing went to Parks and Recreation and Joanne Markiewicz took over Purchasing. Technically without the title she is the Assistant County Manager because she can sign executive summaries and she can act in Leo's absence. We have already seen an improvement with IT and Purchasing we have been able to get more done. Port of the Islands Marina Building: Chief McLaughlin — We had a brief discussion about this and it looks like it isn't going to happen. Ron Gilbert — Who is we? Chief McLaughlin — Mark Isakson, myself, Walter Copka, Barbra Shea, Dan Summers, Artie Bay and Len Price we were at a Board of County Commissioners workshop meeting and a question came up about the Capital items. The Port of the Islands station came up. He was told that we couldn't do an assessment because we are an MSTU not and MSTUB. When this first happened I went to Jim Mudd and asked for a government loan. Originally I wanted to purchase the five acres up front put it up for collateral and build a two bay facility out on US 41 we could have even put a training facility in the back for the whole Bureau of Emergency Services that did fly so we ended up with this because they wanted the Marina. There is no money but the CID offered to give us a loan at one time to finish this and Jim Mudd said no. _Now we've gone full circle four years later the environment has changed after the bottom fell out basically now Mr. Isakson said the District will have to get a loan in order to remodel the station. We are back where we started four years ago so that is where we are at with that. We are looking at a $380,000 to $410,000 loan to finish this facility completely. He is going to pursue that avenue to see what is available. Tony Davis — Do you think the CID would be interested in re- offering a loan? Chief McLaughlin — I would have to go back and ask them. He doesn't know what the County's position would be regarding that. But if their direction is to obtain a loan then that would be something to look at however any one giving us a loan would have to go through our legal Department. Tony Davis — They have a meeting this week. Page 3 Chief McLaughlin — Even a ten year loan would not be a whole lot of money it wouldn't impact us even with the new truck payment. The other two trucks are going to be paid for so once that is done we could pay on a loan and the new truck the payment would be the same. Ron Gilbert — Are you going to meet with somebody at CID. Chief McLaughlin — Yes, I'll have to wait until their next meeting. Ron Gilbert —The meeting is next Friday. Tony Davis — The meeting is this Friday and if you miss it the next meeting will be the third Friday of next month. Chief McLaughlin — He will ask them if they would entertain having a meeting regarding a loan for the station at Port of the Islands. If they agree then he would bring some of the finance personnel along. Tony Davis — He said they are going to be electing a new chairman and it will probably be Noreen. Chief McLaughlin — She has always been a big supporter of getting a facility at Port of the Islands. Tony Davis — That's why I mentioned it. Chief McLaughlin — He asked McBeth Collins if there was anything going on in Everglades City that would affect the District or the Advisory Board. Mc Beth Collins — He said no they had their first meeting since summer break. Ron Gilbert — Asked Chief McLaughlin if he was going to be at the CID Meeting on Friday. Chief McLaughlin —Yes. Ron Gilbert — He plans to be there but over a different issue. Chief McLaughlin — Is it still over at Orchid Cove at 10AM? Tony Davis — Yes. Page 4 Chief McLaughlin — He asked Steve Carnell at Parks and Recreation since they have equipment stored at the Marina if they would be interested in renting the space. They are not going to rent the building they are going to get their equipment out Steve Carnell didn't know they had a bunch of stuff stored there. He then made an offer for Chris to rent the building they said no so he told them to remove all of their belonging out of the building and they did. He re -keyed everything as well. We are going to make this building a meeting and recreational area for the fire personnel because they are cooped up in a room about the size of a bathroom all day long. He is going to rearrange the space. He has money in the impact fees he can use for gym equipment. Ron Gilbert — Their communications equipment is portable they are not tied to that room? Chief McLaughlin — Yes, but we are going to set it up where we can put an outside antennae on this building. Ron Gilbert -- That is my primary drive getting something done with this building is he doesn't think it is fair to the firemen to be confined to two rooms and cooking on hot plates. Chief McLaughlin — There is probably not a Fire Department Union anywhere that would have gone along with this kind of arrangement. They have been stellar in their understanding and service. We have the upcoming ISO inspection next year it will take us 8 or 9 months to get ready for it. We don't have a training facility which would give us a large number of points. The burn part of a training facility we can take care of out at the Ochopee Station with some shipping containers. The maze is going to be built at the Marina facility. He feels they have plenty of room to do that. These training facilities will be a big point boost with ISO. We are going to look into the parking lot issue with all the boats. The bottom line is we own 17 spots and we have first pick according to the sales rights. The 17 parking spaces right around the building belongs to Ochopee Fire Control District. Ron Gilbert— When you say they you mean the hotel or the home owners association? Chief McLaughlin — The homeowners association. Per the SDP it states very clearly that the County has the first choice of 17 parking spaces and the homeowners association gets what's left. Eventually we are going to put up a swipe card gate and a security hedge it's in the plans. The homeowners association has been using these spaces for years and wants to continue to use them. We are going to use the facility to our advantage. Ron Gilbert — Have you considered making this station the official Ochopee Fire Station are your facilities better here than in Everglades City? Page 5 Chief McLaughlin — We have the provisions for an administrative office on that side if we ever had to leave because something happened to the buildings out there. Because they are metal buildings anything can happen to them. The last time they got flooded nothing was replaced. So the first year I was there I had the walls cleaned and sprayed and the furniture replaced. Ron Gilbert - Everglades City is more the geographic center of the District. Chief McLaughlin — Yes and there are other things that it provides. Currently the Administrative Assistant lives on Plantation Island which is a three mile drive as opposed to an 18 mile drive for me it is closer but if I am out there doing work if I need something from both of the stations or anything at Ochopee its more convenient. We are going to built this end for future use if we need a fall back facility but there is nothing in the plans right now. The man power wouldn't change only the administration. We have already rebuilt station 66 as a fall back station but there is no room for administration personnel. The thought was if something was to happen to the Everglades City Station the operations could go to Ochopee it would still be close to the area the administration could move to Port of the Islands. Tony Davis — From an emergency stand point are you equipped to move in if a hurricane were to demolish the station is this building ready to go? Chief McLaughlin — It wouldn't be ready to move in until the construction is done. I will bring the plans to the next meeting. In the construction plans most of that is going to be torn out. One of the issues with the building is that there is only one power meter that has to be split because we are not going to pay power for everybody else. The water line in the building now is illegal and would have to be redone. Ron Gilbert — You know Everglades City is more flood prone than here. Chief McLaughlin —Yes I know. Ron Gilbert — A storm would have to push a storm surge through four miles of ten thousand islands then the last three miles up the Fakaunion river. When Wilma came through Everglades City had water even in the circle. Chief McLaughlin — We had 7 inches of water in the station. Ron Gilbert — There is an 8 inch cap on the sea walls here and the water never got above the bottom of the cap. Page 6 Chief McLaughlin — Even Faye brought in a surge that was two foot away from the front door of the station. Tony Davis — I have seen the circle flooded just during a good thunderstorm and high tide. Chief McLaughlin — We had a spring high tide and it came over all the sea walls. Tony Davis — He asked if the taxes have been paid on the north side hotel at Port of the Islands. Chief McLaughlin -- No, but somebody paid them. Tony Davis — He heard that he paid it but it looks like he got somebody else to buy the tax lien. Did he pay all the arrears or a portion? Chief McLaughlin — I don't recall there was a year that was missed but it had been back paid. Ron Gilbert — If they pay the back taxes do they have to also pay the CID assessment I think that is separate. Tony Davis—That is part of the taxes. Ron Gilbert — It is a non advalorem assessment but you pay it on your tax bill. Frank Hawkins — The water was out twice last month. Do they have similar problems with the non potable water that drives the hydrant systems? Chief McLaughlin — No they do not they actually called us because they were replacing a valve. Capt Morris — The water maintenance guy calls all the time when ever the water is going to be off they let us know. Chief McLaughlin — No we have not had an issue. Tony Davis made a motion to adjourn it was seconded by Frank Hawkins it passed and the meeting ended. s Ronald Gilbert, Chairman Ochopee Fire Control District Advisory Board Page 7