MINUTES

Board of Directors Meeting

Jasper County Emergency Services

April 13th, 2010

Chairman Stephens called the special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., at the Board office, 13870 Dispatch Lane, Carthage, MO, as per public notice. Present in addition to the Chairman were members Larry Newman, Carl Francis, Bill Rowland, Dan Stanley and Jeff Merriman. Representing staff was Interim Executive Directors Tiffany Chenault and Mike Runnebaum. Public attendees included Susan Redden with the Joplin Globe, JR Good representing Jasper Fire Department and Board attorney, Norman Rouse.

Minutes of the Board of Director’s Meeting on March 9th were reviewed. Director Francis moved to approve the minutes as presented. Director Newman seconded the motion. Vote: 6 -0. The motion was adopted.

Minutes of the Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting on March 18th were reviewed. Director Merriman moved to approve the minutes as amended. Director Newman seconded the motion. Vote: 5 -0 with Director Rowland abstaining. The motion was adopted.

Minutes of the Board of Director’s Special Meeting on March 24th were reviewed. Director Merriman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Director Newman seconded the motion. Vote: 4 -0 with Directors Rowland and Stanley abstaining. The motion was adopted.

Minutes of the Board of Director’s Special Meeting on April 6th were reviewed. Director Merriman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Director Newman seconded the motion. Vote: 4 -0 with Directors Rowland and Stanley abstaining. The motion was adopted.

There was no public comment or correspondence to report.

Treasurer Francis presented the financial report for April.

The check for February sales tax was received in the amount of $115,502.40. The check for March sales tax has not been received.

The checkbook balance before payment of bills is $28,925.81. The bills submitted for approval total $24,467.40. After payment of all bills, the checkbook balance will be $4,458.41. The money market account balance is $24,465.86.

Accounts receivable balance is $19,626.33. Receipt of all AR will bring the final checkbook balance to $24,084.74.

Budget and Finance – There was not a meeting and nothing to report.

Technical Services – There was not a meeting and nothing to report.

Building and Grounds – There was not a meeting and nothing to report.

Personnel and Policy – There was a meeting on March 18^th with nothing to report^.

Interim Executive Director Chenault advised Board members that Anthem Insurance had made an error on billing at renewal. Vision insurance had been added to the Anthem policy at renewal while a separate plan had already been purchased with VSP. Anthem will be reimbursing for the vision insurance premiums totaling approximately $800.00 retroactive to the beginning of the year.

Interim Executive Director Runnebaum advised that software changes had been made on the radio system to accommodate setting off the Avilla storm sirens. A letter had been received from the Mayor on March 12th authorizing JasCo to set off the tones. Successful tests were conducted. Oronogo Police Department has also expressed interest in JasCo setting off their sirens, but there had yet to be any follow-up with a letter from their mayor or city council.

The Fire West amplifier has been ordered by Southwest Communications but is on back-order until April 21st. The I.P. 223 was received for the installation of Multi 4. Rayfield Communications completed the grounding work on April 12th and Southwest Communications should have it completely installed by the end of the week.

The Deputy TAC position was filled by TCO Kay Cathers.

Interim Executive Director Runnebaum mentioned to Board members that the parking lot needed to be re-sealed and the issue of the storage facility being maintained at Americold Logistics since the sale of the Mobile Command Vehicle.

Board members discussed Reverse 911 and the addition of fire and police chief’s having the authorization to set-off Reverse 911 and their storm sirens in the current policy. Interim Executive Director Runnebaum stated that a recent test had been conducted in Webb City and approximately 90% of residents were notified in three minutes or less, however, the other 10% had a delay of almost 15 minutes. He also added that during the last meeting he had with the Jasper County Commissioners and Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer, it had been mentioned that the system could be used for tornado watches to allow citizens an ample amount of time to be notified. There was also a brief discussion over the local telephone switch being bombarded with the calls and delaying notification times. Board members agreed that a county-wide test should be conducted to have a real-time estimate of how long it would take to notify residents and that the local telephone companies should be contacted to verify what their switches are capable of handling. Director Rowland and Director Francis agreed that trained weather spotters should be added to the policy to authorize the use of the storm sirens and Reverse 911. Director Francis then suggested that the policy be updated to reflect all public safety officials having the authorization and that it should be documented in the event who made the authorization.

Chief J.R. Good with Jasper Fire Department addressed the Board with his agencies radio issues. He stated that Jasper Fire had never been able to use Fire East or Fire West since inception and that neither have been reliable to transmit or receive radio traffic. Several years ago, the City of Jasper had purchased a repeater, coax and antenna to put Law North private behind city hall. He stated that it appears that the coax needs to be replaced or there is something else that could be causing issues in the line between the repeater and antenna since the repeater from JasCo had burnt up. Former Executive Director Nordell and Southwest Communications had been discussing solution to fix the repeater, but nothing has been completed. At the time, there was not a spare radio available. Southwest Communications has since received a new radio to be installed at Fire East and Chief Good inquired if the old radio could be used for their private.

Interim Executive Director Runnebaum stated that he would like to tone and transmit initially for Jasper Fire Department on Fire East and then move radio traffic to their private frequency for additional monitoring. Chief Good stated that when tones are sent over Fire East that there is an extended timeframe before notifications are received and that compiled with transmit and receive issues could cause a delay in response. Chief Good added that the private repeater had been working great for the last couple of years and he would like to continue utilizing it. He also has contact information for a tower climber who is insured through the City of Jasper and could assist with the coax replacement; reducing the overall cost. There are no plans to move the antenna to the new location for the Fire Department. It will remain on the water tower.

Director Merriman briefly left the meeting at 6:46p.m., returning at 6:47p.m.

Vote: Stephens - in favor

Merriman - in favor

Newman - in favor

Francis - in favor

Stanley - in favor

Rowland - in favor

At 7:50p.m., Director Merriman moved for a brief recess. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 6 -0.

Meeting resumed at 8:01p.m.

Vote: Stephens – in favor

Merriman - in favor

Newman – in favor

Francis – in favor

Stanley - in favor

Rowland - in favor

The next Board meeting was set for May 11th.

Director Rowland moved the meeting be adjourned. Director Newman seconded the motion. Vote: 6 – 0.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:37p.m.