Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District
Minutes for Regular Commissioners Board Meeting
January 27, 2016
Call to Order: Commissioner Cox called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
Commissioner Cox led everyone in the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call: Commissioners Cammick (by phone) Dreikorn, Player, Cox and Honc were present.
Guests: Acting Chief Mickuleit, Inspector Kulwicki, Attorney Pritt and Administrative Assistant Richter.
Setting of Agenda: Commissioner Dreikorn moved to accept the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player. Motion passed unanimously.
Approval of Minutes:
1. December 26, 2015 Regular Board Meeting – Commissioner Player moved to
approve minutes as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Dreikorn. Motion
passed unanimously.
2. January 22, 2016 Regular Workshop Meeting – Commissioner Dreikorn move
to approve minutes as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Honc. Motion
passed unanimously.
Treasurer's Report: 12/16/15-01/26/16 Commissioner Dreikorn presents Treasurer’s Report. Commissioner Cammick moved to accept Treasurer’s Report as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player. Motion passed unanimously.
Income Statement/Balance Sheet & Cash Disbursements: Commissioner Honc moved to accept. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player. Motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners’ Expenses:
Guest Speakers:
Public Comment - Agenda Items:
Volunteers/Explorers: Acting Chief Mickuleit states nothing new to report.
Auxiliary: Acting Chief Mickuleit states nothing new to report.
CERT: Acting Chief Mickuleit states that Inspector Kulwicki has contacted all by phone to have present at the meeting Friday. Hopefully calling will get a better response.
Firefighters:
Union:
Chief’s Report:
Acting Chief Mickuleit hands out flier Leoma Lovegrove Art Raffle – Capt. Russell contacted her to see if she would donate something for a raffle to raise money for extrication equipment. She donated a painting valued for $10,000 and has a possible sale of another painting for $10,000 and if they buy it she is going to donate that to the Fire Department also. Brief discussion follows.
Red Cross Fire Preparedness Campaign – The Red Cross and Fire Department Installed over 100 smoke alarms in Pine Island Cove it was a huge success.
Reason the workshop was moved last Friday is there was a CPR class at Station 1 and the guys were also teaching St James City Civic Association so last we the district taught over 30 members of the community CPR; which is great.
Mechanic Heiser turned in his resignation letter his last day is April 21st so we will plan accordingly and have something setup for his retirement. Commissioner Dreikorn asked what about his replacement? Acting Chief Mickuleit states that he has spoken to all the Captains and the guys are willing to pitch in and help. Meaning that for a trial period of a year we can do without a mechanic and the guys will do most of the work they can do in house (minor mechanically) anything major at this point we subcontract it out anyway. Most of the stuff can be done in house. The guys really want to pitch in they want to help the budget, by doing what they can on their end to help the district. If it doesn’t work out we can always hire a mechanic. The only concerns is at his pay rate because it is setup by union contract and step plan will you get a qualified mechanic that will do plumbing, errands in town, cut the grass, more of a maintenance person than mechanic. Brief discussion follows of position being in the union and being able to outsource work, also the verification of competency of doing the work that needs to be done.
Dock at tower – C Shift has taken the initiative to make Mel Meo’s tower painting more attractive so they built a dock. Capt. Russell and Engineer Simer donated the decking and pilings. Brief discussion follows.
Raffle boxes for the Leoma Lovegrove Art Raffle were also built by C Shift so they were really busy.
Bobby Holloway Fund has donated $500 for the car seat program so last week Inspector Kulwicki and I went and purchased 11 car seats so we are restocked. We are currently waiting on University of Florida to get their grant to get additional car seats. So if there is an interest we have them available. The Holloway Fund has donated over $1,000 for this program.
1. Firefighter Recognition – presented by Acting Chief Mickuleit:
Wants to recognize all of C Shift for coming up with great ideas and following through with the leadership of Captain Russell.
2. Monthly Report – December 2015 – Commissioner Player inquiries about call 15-0001560 to Pinehurst response of 11 minutes. Linda replies distance to call is what they had but they could have been out of zone; it will be researched. (Upon research they were responding from Station 1.) Commissioner Dreikorn inquiries into the response time required for ISO. This will be researched and brought back to the board. ISO inspection Acting Chief Mickuleit is trying to get it postponed. The official report won’t be ready for 6 months at least. Commissioner Dreikorn inquiries into if he can share the monthly report information especially the response times. Acting Chief Mickuleit states it is public record. Brief discussion follows in regards to 10 minute response time to Pompano; which is where New Station 4 would be. Why we bought the property over the bridge is if something happens to the bridge we still have the capability of protecting our residents on the other side of the bridge. Brief discussion of traffic in Matlacha follows.
3. Inspector’s Report – December 2015 –
4. Matlacha Station 4 – Nothing new to report.
Old Business:
1. DVP of the Union and I think it’s a good idea he was thinking if the District could put up billboard of some sort at station 4 property saying For additional referendum information or future station 4 see the website and leave it at that there is so much traffic going by station 4. Discussion follows. Consensus of the board is to go ahead with this. Elections office – Linda has contacted the elections office and we have 7,265 registered voters on the island. It cost us $8 to get the list. We have ordered envelopes, labels, paper and stamps it will cost the district around $4,000 per mailing. The second part is would the commissioners want to send out the Q&A (second mailing). We will send out the fact sheet first by February 1st. Union is also working on mail outs. Second mailing to be done by February 4th. Once Fact Sheet and Q&A Sheets are approved it will be put on website; Referendum tab has been added and links are being created for information.
Brief discussion follows. Commissioner Dreikorn wants it to be known that the fiduciary responsibility if we are not successful the district is going to be in a very challenged position with executing its business and that the board is very conscience of the expenditure and being as frugal as possible in making that decision. Mr. Pritt states he received an e-mail from Bernie (Elections Office) brief discussion follows as to ballot language in English and Spanish for the referendum; which he will look at. He will do the advertisement of notice of election that is required on February 9th and 23rd. Commissioner Dreikorn moves to accept the Fact Sheet and Q& A to be mailed with the Fact Sheet mailed out on Monday and Q & A Sheet on Friday. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Chief – Mr. Pritt states that the direction of the board from the workshop was to have Mr. Pritt draft a letter in regards to absence from work due to medical reasons. Copy of draft letter on file. Brief discussion follows in regards to the length of time he has been out. Commissioner Dreikorn moves that we accept this letter and allow Mr. Pritt to sign it. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Fire Truck – Commercial vs Custom – Acting Chief Mickuleit states due to the weather I will not be able to do this presentation so I would like the board to do it next meeting. Brief discussion follows in regards to cost of commercial vs custom. Brief discussion follows as to a committee has been established. Brief discussion follows as to financing of the truck(s). Commissioner Dreikorn ask is there going to be an action by the board requested in February. Linda states you had requested him to give a presentation of the difference between the commercial and the custom and that is what he was trying to do. Acting Chief Mickuleit states I also believe that according to the budget the commissioners of the board have already approved $450,000 to purchase truck(s) for the district. Brief discussion of the $450,000 follows how we get that money. Reply is through a lease. Mr. Pritt asked do you have the money. Reply is it was approved in the budget with brief discussion to follow. Commissioner Dreikorn would like to see as part of the presentation is how the dollars line up with what we are going to do to make sure we are not surprised in November. Acting Chief Mickuleit states I am trying to stretch that money as the $450,000 was for 1 truck I am trying to get 2 trucks for that money.
Brief discussion of price could go up if we wait. Commissioner Dreikorn wants to see where the money is allocated and how we are going to stay whole. Discussion follows in regards to holding the price contingent upon if 1. March 1st rates, 2. Passage of the referendum which is March 15th and 3. Financing which we will get back to you before April 1st. Brief discussion of financing follows along with time out for truck being built is currently 8 months out. Lengthy discussion follows in regards to all the above. Consensus of the board is to hold off on this.
New Business:
1. Fire Hydrant Maintenance – Discussion follows in regards to why we don’t maintain the fire hydrants; which reply was that Chief Marzella ask the water board to help pay for supplies and the water board denied. According to State Statute the water company responsible for maintenance. Water board said there was a long time standing agreement; which reply is that our budget didn’t allow it so the water board took it back. Commissioner Dreikorn states the maintenance is critical to the fire service so should the fire service take it back. Discussion follows in regards to concerns of knowing where all the hydrants are, ISO (points earned for the maintenance of the hydrant) and should we take it back. Acting Chief Mickuleit states that the guys have taken on other projects and wouldn’t have time for it. Commissioner Cammick states that the fire department should make sure the water company is maintaining them. Reply is we have no jurisdiction over them so we cannot do that. Commissioner Dreikorn moves to direct Acting Chief with Bill Thatcher to create status report of hydrant maintenance for the board to make sure they are safe. Motion seconded by Commissioner Cammick. Vote is 4 aye 1 naye.
Public Comment:
Good of the District:
Commissioner Honc moves to adjourn. Motion seconded by Commissioner Player.
Meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Richter
District Administrative Assistant
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Ken Honc, Board Secretary
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