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Ochopee FCD Advisory Board Minutes 11/13/2012 OCHOPEE FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT ) 3ORRW/Erit ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 2012 J DEC 1 1 2012 BY: The following were in attendance: 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 'Pt /Fiala 'P -- Frank Hawkins, Port of the islands Advisory Board Member Hiller r-------- Henning ROLL CALL OF ATTENDEES: Coyle ✓ The meeting came to order and then roll call of attendees. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR 9-10-12: The meeting minutes of September 10, 2012 were approved with corrections. OLD BUSINESS: 1. DOF, SAFER& FEMA Grant Updates Captain Morris-We were awarded the DOF Grant it is a 50/50 grant and we will use it to buy Foam for the Engines. We are getting low on foam because we use it for brush fires but that is why we can purchase it on the Division of Forestry Grant. If you can tie it to wild land firefighting you can use the Forestry grant to purchase supplies and equipment. We use a lot of foam fighting on brush fires. The update on the SAFER and FEMA Grant is that the County gave the Chief the go ahead to pursue these two grants. We are still in the application process and we have not been cut yet. Tony Davis-What is that targeted for? Captain Morris - The SAFER Grant supplies man power for two years and if you cannot hire them after that time period you can re-apply for the grant. It is temporary man power. We are doing this prior to the 1-75 go ahead this way we can get the man power on. Tony Davis - As discussed in the previous meeting they would be contract employees not county employees and they would not be paid overtime. Page 1 t Date: 4-41g1k5 Item#: I Le 2—Fl 2—) l t, Copies to: Captain Morris — Yes there is no overtime and they know that up front. All the Fire Departments are using the SAFER Grant to keep their Departments going so they can keep personnel. If you can prove you are under manned and can't adhere to the two men in two out rule then you can apply. You are supposed to have two men ready to go in to a structure fire once the two that went in come out they are supposed to be on scene not in route. If you don't have the personnel you can't go in the building you have to wait until the additional personnel arrive. This will add man power in the mean time. The County was a little confused about it but the Chief explained how the grant works. The County didn't like putting people on temporarily then laying them off. It was explained to the County Officials that the employees will know up front what the terms of their employment will be and that it is temporary. Also the County was informed that several Fire Departments are using the SAFER Grant and in some cases have been awarded the Grant two to three times. Ron Gilbert—Your only expense is the salary you aren't paying benefits. Captain Morris—We aren't paying them FEMA is. The only thing we have to do is provide them with clothing and protective gear. We already have plenty of protective gear. Tony Davis— He hopes we get the grant he keeps hearing that FEMA is broke. Captain Morris—This Grant is given out each year so we applied for it. 2. Still need to fill James Simmons position on the Advisory Board Ron Gilbert— He spoke to someone that might be interested in serving on the board and asked if anyone else had some one. Frank Hawkins — He asked how are the communities in the District are represented because most of them are from here. Captain Morris--We can try to solicit people from other parts of the District. Ron Gilbert— If you and the Chief don't have any one you want to pursue in Everglades City or that area. But I do have some one that might be interested. Tony Davis—I could ask Bob Miller but he doesn't live in the District he is just a business owner. Don't you have to live in the District? Captain Morris—Yes, I think so. Page 2 • 4, Captain Morris—He does own all that property. Tony Davis—He does have a condo at the Estuaries. Captain Morris—I will have to check into it. Ron Gilbert— He gets a tax bill from the District so I think he could apply. So I will hold off on my candidate until you can find out whether he is eligible or not. Captain Morris—We used to have a representative from each community. Ron Gilbert—That would be more representative of the District. 3. 1-75 (Construction Meetings regarding the building of station 63 are to begin tomorrow still working on operational funding.) Frank Hawkins — Since this is old business does that mean tomorrow or is this referring to an older date? Captain Morris — Tomorrow means 11-14-12 the Chief, Hank Jones, Dan Summers and DOT representative are going to this construction meeting in regards to the 1-75 station to iron out the problem of operational funding. DOT was under the impression that they were not funding it operationally even though it was in the proposal. They had no problem building the building but not funding it operationally. They couldn't understand why they had to fund it operationally but in the proposal it said 100%funded. Ron Gilbert—If you don't have ongoing funding what do you have? Captain Morris—It is supposed to be 100%funded. l �� Frank Hawkins—Iv ,be a ' e build use f' story (5.0.,j, ttA,) oKt 4. The Board of County Commissioners Approved Funding for the Port of the Islands Station today 11-13-12. Ron Gilbert—That was a unanimous vote and is going to be funded through option three of the proposal. Option three is to take residual gilt money in 2013 and borrow the balance from general fund to be paid back by the District. Tony Davis—Told the other board members he could provide the link if they wanted the details of the Board of County Commissioners meeting regarding this issue. Page 3 Frank Ha i s — He underr werre!/`r—.-aa• to go that th s were nd the contractor i l be on site Ron Gilbert—Spoke to the gentleman that is going to handle the refurbishing of the station he said it went from $400,000 to $600,000 that the initial estimates are three years old. So yes all of that has been going on and it was his understanding from what he heard after the meeting by the people involved that they are ready to move forward on the building. Captain Morris—They change vendors and the last people that gave the bid were Brandana but it has been re-bid by Surety Construction they are going to do the work. Frank Hawkins— Is it possible that the construction could interfere with the marine operations? Captain Morris—The only thing I could foresee is part of the area closed off during construction but it should not affect the operations of the marina. They are going to re-do the parking lot, hedges, fence and inside the building. Ron Gilbert—Everything has been done up to submitting a request for a bid. Captain Morris—Everything has been done, architectural plans and permits. Ron Gilbert—Is there an estimated construction date. Captain Morris—No not yet. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ron Gilbert and Tony Davis are due to renew their Advisory Board positions Ron Gilbert—He has renewed his position on the Advisory Board and he asked if Tony Davis has renewed. Ton Davis — He has renewed his position on the Advisory Board as well but he has not heard back from any one. Ron Gilbert—He has not heard back from the County about his renewal either. Ron Gilbert— He asked Linda to check on why they have not heard back from the County about their renewals. Frank Hawkins—How long is our tenure here how does that work. Page 4 Ron Gilbert—Your term is two years and you will get a letter from Leo Ochs saying your term is expiring please complete the form or you can do that on line. Tony Davis—Said they had him down as expiring December 2013 but Linda was told a different story so I filled out my forms and reapplied. Captain Morris—They won't replace you even if your term has expired. Tony Davis—We both are good on that we have re-applied. 2. Functional consolidation of Isles of Capri and Ochopee Fire Control District Ron Gilbert— He didn't even know this was even being discussed. Captain Morris—This is an administrative consolidation. Ron Gilbert—I thought he was doing that already. Captain Morris—He has been but unofficially. Tony Davis—They are just making it official. Captain Morris — The Isles of Capri Firemen will be at Isles of Capri and Ochopee Fire Control District Firemen will be at Ochopee Fire Control no equipment exchange just administratively. Tony Davis—The Chief will have the same personnel that he has now. Captain Morris—Yes,just like he is doing now. Isles of Capri is going to get a Division Chief and we are going to get a Division Chief here. Tom Purcell who works at Isles of Capri now is going to be the Captain of both places. So in reality we are gaining a man at Ochopee Fire Control. Ron Gilbert—You will retain Captain won't you? Captain Morris—No my position will go away I will be promoted to Division Chief. Tom Purcell will be a Logistics Training Captain. Ron Gilbert — I would imagine that does not make the Chief real happy is that an ongoing situation it was presented to him as being temporary. Captain Morris—The County wants to move forward to make this a permanent situation. Page 5 Frank Hawkins — The synergy of consolidation has always made sense as long as you are not running it into the ground. Ron Gilbert — You are doing some restructuring with one Chief and a Junior Chief over each Department. Captain Morris— He is also talking that the Logistics Captain would possibly be stationed at Port of the Islands his office would be here so we will actually gain another person that will be at our disposal. Bad' 3. The Rescue B .just received its annual maintenance Ron Gilbert—He hoped the rescue boat passed its annual maintenance. Frank Hawkins—What is the rescue boat and where is it. Captain Morris—It needed some major service work. Ron Gilbert — That rescue boat is probably in Everglades City because it is probably used exclusively in Everglades City. You used it when you had the fire on the Island over there. Captain Morris—Yes, there is more to the story of the Fire Boat. The Chief and I thought it was just the Districts fire boat we were using it for mutual aid. When the island was developed the developer paid for half the fire boat and the County paid for the other half so it more or less stays local. But if something happens at Port of the Islands on the water we are coming. There is a marine emergency response team in the County and there is always two fire boats that go on every call. So if some ones boat was sinking in the channel at Port of the Islands our boat would respond and so would Marco Island. Marco Island just obtained a $500,000 fire boat. 4. The yearly apparatus checks will begin tomorrow Ron Gilbert—What are yearly apparatus checks. Captain Morris —We do complete pump test on the trucks where we push the pumps to their maximum limits and if they fail the truck has to go in and have the pump repaired if it passes then it is good to go for another year. Ron Gilbert—So it has to maintain pumping at a maximum limit for so many minutes. Captain Morris— It certifies that we pump tested this truck and it did its capacity for the length of the test. We have already done Capri's trucks so we are going to do ours tomorrow. Page 6 Frank Hawkins— When we have the permanent fire station here can we request an update on our insurance rating. Captain Morris — You could make a request with the local insurance company about changing your insurance rates once there is a permanent fire station. I don't know if the insurance companies are honoring the rates with just the personnel and the engine here now. Ron Gilbert—Some insurance companies will lower their rates with the coverage we have now some won't until there is a permanent fire station it depends on the company. Frank Hawkins—He said it varies. Ron Gilbert — We'll get them to write the letter like before stating that there is now a permanent fire station in the area. Captain Morris— Now lowering the ISO that is a whole other situation and we are working on that right now it is a process that takes years they will come down here for a week digging through our records. We are in the process of getting the information together and we have to do the whole District you can't just do areas. Tony Davis—Some carriers will not change their rates until the ISO list it in their books. Captain Morris—A lot of insurance companies call the station and will make a judgment just by the information you give them over the phone. What difference does the building make if the personnel are here,the vehicle is and the hydrants. Frank Hawkins—Maybe they think temporary means they could be gone it could change. Captain Morris—Yes, we could send the letter our and do all of this and then things change the service could be gone. Ron Gilbert—They will feel a lot more comfortable when the permanent structure is here. A motion to adjourn was made it was seconded and the meeting ended at 4:35PM. • , 4,4 :744 1/t 4(-. . 5,e,yyoi s YVY/ Ronald Gilbert, Chairman Ochopee Fire Control District Advisory Board Page 7 I