Minutes

Lemay FPD Board of Directors

May 21, 2003


General Board Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Mr. Stonebraker. Present were Directors Mr. Stonebraker, Mr. Schloss, Mr. Bettag, Chief Svetanics, Ms. Vincent, Firefighter Ron Harder and Citizens from the District.

Pledge of allegiance to the Flag led by Firefighter Ron Harder.

Mr. Stonebraker asked if there were any additions to the agenda. Mr. Stonebraker stated he would have addition under new business. Motion made by Mr. Stonebraker to accept the agenda, 2nd by Mr. Bettag, roll call vote, all ayes.

Motion by Mr. Stonebraker to accept executive meeting minutes of April 29, 2003, May 8, 2003 and May 18, 2003, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Stonebraker aye, Mr. Bettag aye and Mr. Schloss aye, motion agreed to.

Motion by Mr. Stonebraker to accept general meeting minutes of April 22, 2003, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote all ayes.

Mr. Bettag gave Treasurer’s Report of Accounts ending April 30, 2003. Mr. Bettag stated that we are under budget for this month and asked Chief Svetanics if there were any major purchases on the horizon. Chief Svetanics responded that we are in process of choosing carpet for 1st floor men’s quarters but no other major purchases are currently planned. Motion to accept Treasurer’s report made by Mr. Stonebraker, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Stonebraker aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Bettag aye, motion accepted. Mr. Bettag also stated there is a meeting scheduled with accountant Joe Schnieders for Monday, June 2, 2003 at 8:30 a.m., which will be open to the public. The purpose of this meeting is to give the Board a better understanding of reports generated from our monthly expenditures. Mr. Bettag feels if reports are more understandable it will be helpful at our new open bill paying meetings to be held once a month starting on May 27, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Stonebraker asked Chief Svetanics to make Chief’s report. Chief Svetanics stated that we received SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) and the men on all crews are training on them. We also received $5,000 discount for our trade in of our old masks to Battalion 3. This just about finishes up our Fire Act Grant money. Chief Svetanics also stated we are looking at two items in the future: One is to lease a computer system, which we have obtained bids for a server and two workstations. Also, we should start to discuss the ordering of a new ambulance, as our maintenance costs are high and it gets used quite a lot. When purchase of a new pumper was mentioned, Chief Svetanics stated it could wait another year.

Chief Svetanics also talked about upgrading our Homeland Security level to Orange and stated that we are prepared to do what is necessary in this regard.

Chief Svetanics mentioned that we had five off-duty employees who went to DeSoto, Missouri to help after the violent storms hit the small community. DeSoto’s men had worked around the clock and requested relief. The firefighters took our relief pumper and logged in 14 hours. We are hoping to be reimbursed for the cost of the personnel.

Chief Svetanics also said we are waiting for representatives of our new insurance company covering our building and equipment, VFIS, to come and evaluate equipment and records and procedures. They have given us thousands of dollars worth of free training materials.

Svetanics talked about the new flooring for the men’s quarters. He stated that some of the men are asking for tile instead of carpet in the hallway and lounge because of heavy traffic and maintenance. We are going to poll the men to see which one they prefer. Mr. Stonebraker stated that Mr. Diel of King ‘O Tile, Inc. had been in Lemay for over 30 years and is a union contractor. Motion made by Mr. Stonebraker to approve new carpet or tile for 1st floor not to exceed $5,500, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Bettag aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Stonebraker aye, motion agreed to.

Old Business:

Firefighter Ron Harder, as Public Information Officer, was asked to address the Open House/Blood Drive scheduled for May 31, 2003. Pvt. Harder has been distributing fliers to area businesses, banks, churches, and restaurants in an attempt to notify the public of this event. Pvt. Harder stated that it was a way to display our new Fire Act Grant equipment and to show how the firehouse is user friendly. We want the public to be generous and donate blood, which is being collected by Gateway Blood Services, and donors will receive a free T-shirt. There will be free hot dogs and soda provided by the Salvation Army and served by the Box 8 Club. There will also be a safe-house provided and manned by Metro West District. Citizens will get to try on fire gear. There will be free child car seat inspections, Chief Svetanics explained that we will be taking orders for free smoke detectors so that we can install them properly for the citizens at a later date. The Chief stated that if we gave them away that day, there could be a problem with them not being properly installed and our installing them later is a way to prevent hazards. Mr. Stonebraker stated that if the weather cooperates we should have a nice crowd and thanked Pvt. Harder for his work on this project.

New Business:

Mr. Stonebraker stated that Mr. Greg Hayden of Luxembourg Realty, who was going to give a presentation on behalf of the Lemay Chamber of Commerce and speak on a tax freeze had to attend another meeting. Mr. Schloss explained that the Lemay Development Corporation, Councilman Campisi, the Lemay Chamber of Commerce, Hancock School District and the Fire District was asked to take a five (5) year tax abatement on new businesses to entice companies to locate in the District. Currently there are two (2) businesses looking to open here, Ace Hardware (to receive tax abatement until 2007) and Fendler’s Nursery (to receive tax abatement until 2009). Mr. Schloss recommend the board accept the freeze on tax rates explaining that each proposal has to be approved individually and that Councilman Campisi will need a letter from the board approving the tax abatement on each business. Motion by Mr. Stonebraker to approve request for abatement as proposed by Mr. Hayden in a letter to Councilman Campisi, 2nd by Mr. Bettag, roll call vote Mr. Stonebraker aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Bettag aye, passed unanimously.

Mr. Stonebraker explained the purpose of Ordinance 05-03-21 as binding the District to put minutes of all general board meetings on our new web site within 72 hours of board meeting. We are to start posting minutes on web site as of this meeting, but will officially be binding at June 18 meeting. Eventually we hope to put financial reports on web site also. Motion made by Mr. Stonebraker to accept Ordinance 05-03-21 as published, 2nd by Mr. Bettag, roll call vote Mr. Stonebraker aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Bettag aye, Ordinance 05-03-21 is agreed to.

Ordinance 4-03 proposed by Chief Svetanics is insurance for the community to regulate when property has damage by fire, explosion or other casualty to the extent that it is condemned shall be declared a public nuisance for purposes of this ordinance. If the owners fail to correct the problem, in public interest the damage may be corrected or removed. A special tax bill will be issued to the owners and shall be deemed a personal debt. A lien shall exist on the property until paid. Also, if there are insurance proceeds, instead of owners walking away with insurance money and leaving a burned out shell or hazardous and unsightly conditions, they would be ordered to use insurance money to first clean up property or fix damages before collecting remainder of insurance money. The District itself would receive nothing monetarily; it is just a way to protect neighborhoods. Motion made by Mr. Stonebraker that board adopt Ordinance 4-03 as published, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Bettag aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Stonebraker aye, Ordinance 4-03 agreed to as published.

Mr. Stonebraker presented Resolution 5-03, which the board has written to St. Louis County Fire Academy regarding Chief Svetanics stating that they have reviewed all Chief Svetanics’ accomplishments and feel that they exceed the requirements of the Academy and that they feel very comfortable with the Resolution. Motion made by Mr. Stonebraker to accept Resolution 5-03 as published, 2nd by Mr. Schloss, roll call vote Mr. Bettag aye, Mr. Schloss aye and Mr. Stonebraker aye, Resolution 5-03 agreed to as published.

Monthly reports ending April 30, 2003, reviewed: Training by each crew member, 40 hour education schedule for training, maintenance report, fire incident report, fire incident report summary, ambulance statistics, Gateway monthly credit report, hydrant report, school inspections report and minutes from St. Louis County Fire Alarm.

Next business meeting to be held Wednesday, June 18, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.

Question asked by citizen if there was any liability in making our finances available to the public. Mr. Stonebraker explained that it was an open meeting and therefore public record. Mr. Stonebraker also stated it is a way for us to show where we are financially at any given time of month and that you should hold us accountable financially for everything we do.

There being no more business, motion made by Mr. Stonebraker to adjourn the Board meeting at 8:15 p.m. 2nd by Mr. Bettag, roll call vote all ayes, motion agreed to.

Respectfully submitted,



Jerry G. Schloss, Secretary

JGS/pgv