A regular meeting of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District Board was held on Wednesday, July 12 th , 2006 at the Centerburg Town Hall , located at 49 ½ N. Main Street , Centerburg , Ohio . The following were in attendance:

Board Members                            Staff

George Shaw, Chairman                  Diane Clippinger, Clerk

Larry Hawkins                                 Chief Joe Porter

Ronnie Miller                                  John Thatcher, Knox County

Tim Jensen                                     Prosecuting Attorney

Patti Frazee

Public   

Firefighter Doug Neighbarger           Firefighter Kasey Holland

Lieutenant David Miller                    Firefighter Cory Schwartz

The regular Board meeting of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District was called to order by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the June 14, 2006 meeting were presented for approval. Mr. Jensen made a motion to approve the minutes and Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Miller. In the negative: none.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Mrs. Clippinger presented to the Board, warrants for their approval and signature. Mrs. Frazee made a motion to approve the warrants presented; Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Miller. In the negative: none.

Due to anticipated shortage in the natural gas line item, Mrs. Frazee made a motion to appropriate $2,700.00 more for natural gas and Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Miller. In the negative: none.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

None

CONTINUING BUSINESS

•  Parking lot - Mrs. Clippinger had received one sealed bid from Ohio Asphalt Paving for the parking lot at an amount of $35,843.15. Mr. Ted Goodyear did bring a bid to the meeting but was declined since it was received after the 6:00 p.m. deadline. The Board discussed the 23% difference between Ohio Asphalt Paving's bid and the county engineer's estimate of $27,815.27. Mr. Miller made a motion to reject Ohio Asphalt Paving's bid based on the difference between their bid and the county engineer's estimate and Mr. Hawkins seconded the motion. On roll call in the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Hawkins and Chairman Shaw. In the negative: Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Jensen. Mr. Jensen made a motion to re-bid this project, with bids being opened on August 9 th , 2006 at 7:00 p.m. and Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Miller. In the negative: none. The Board noted the bid specifications should have a clause stating the project was at a working fire station and would need to be completed in two phases. The Board requested the Public Notice be put in the Mount Vernon News, Centerburg Clipper and Centerburg Gazette. Mr. Miller noted he would contact the county engineer to verify the estimate he had provided.

•  Land on State Route 3 - Mrs. Clippinger noted she had spoken with Mr. Ken Zeigler of the State of Ohio 's EPA. Mr. Zeigler indicated the District would need to install a mound type septic system on this lot, at an estimated cost of $12,000 to $22,000. Mrs. Frazee noted she had been told the lot had been sold, but had not been able to confirm this. After some discussion, Mrs. Frazee agreed to contact the land owner to find out the status of the lot. Prosecutor Thatcher recommended the Board have a special meeting to discuss the purchase of the lot, should it still be available. Mr. Jensen noted to could get a rough draft of a building that would meet the District's needs and present it to the Board. Mr. Miller indicated he could research the cost of installing the septic system the State of Ohio 's EPA recommended and installing a well. This was tabled until the status of the lot could be obtained.

•  Lieutenant Grewell - Lieutenant Grewell is back to work full-time.

•  Training reimbursement - The Board discussed reimbursing employees for training expenses and the longevity requirements, if any, should the District agree to reimbursement. Firefighter Neighbarger asked the Board to pay for his training class up front and then the military would reimburse the District, once the training was completed. The Board was not in favor of this. The Board agreed they needed to have a policy in regards to reimbursement for training expenses, with guidelines, in the form of an S.O.G. Mr. Jensen indicated he would obtain a sample of a similar policy and present it to the Board at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

•  Audit - Mrs. Clippinger indicated she had been contacted of the Auditor of State's Office in regards to the District's bi-annual audit, which will begin July 20 th , 2006 .

REPORTS

Strategic Planning Committee - The Strategic Planning Committee had discussed the need for the District to replace two heart monitors. The District would be able to purchase the heart monitors from the monies budgeted for the captains position which was not filled. The District would also use $8,000 from the State EMS Grant it was receiving. The Committee recommended the Board purchase two 12 lead heart monitors off of the State Purchasing Program. These heart monitors would allow the District to transmit information to hospitals while in transit. The District would have the option of trading the old heart monitors in or to sell them. Mr. Hawkins made a motion to purchase two 12 lead heart monitors, off of the State Purchasing Program, for a total of $31,848.48. The District would be reimbursed $8,000 from the State EMS Grant, for a total cost to the District of $23,848.48. Mrs. Frazee seconded the motion. On roll call in the affirmative: Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Miller, Chairman Shaw, Mrs. Frazee and Mr. Jensen. In the negative: none.

Personnel Committee - Mr. Jensen had surveyed several Districts in regards to part-time employees receiving holiday pay. The Districts who had responded to the survey, did have some type of incentive for working holidays, with time and half pay being the standard incentive. Mr. Jensen noted he would present an S.O.G., in regards to this issue, at the next Board meeting.

Chief Porter -

•  Ford Explorer - Chief Porter noted the Ford Explorer the District purchased would be available on July 21 st ; however, since Chief Porter would be out of town, he will not be able to pick up the Explorer until July 31 st .

•  Resignation - Mr. Jensen made a motion to accept the resignation of Firefighter Charles Borden, effective immediately, based on Chief Porter's recommendation. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins, Chairman Shaw and Mrs. Frazee. In the negative: none.

•  Volunteer Firefighter Kasey Holland - Chief Porter noted Volunteer Firefighter Holland had been unable to complete her fire training class by her one year anniversary date. Per the Ohio Revised Code and the District's S.O.G. this is a violation and her position with the District should be terminated. Volunteer Firefighter Holland did indicate she was currently in EMT school and had been scheduled for fire training class several times, with each class being cancelled. Volunteer Firefighter Holland tendered her resignation to Chief Porter. Mr. Miller made a motion to accept Volunteer Firefighter Holland's resignation and Mr. Jensen seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins, Chairman Shaw and Mrs. Frazee. In the negative: none. Ms. Holland requested the District re-hire her to volunteer status due to circumstances beyond her control. Mr. Miller made a motion to re-hire Ms. Holland to volunteer status and Mrs. Frazee seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins, Chairman Shaw and Mrs. Frazee. In the negative: none.

•  Volunteer Firefighter Brent Spearman - Mr. Jensen made a motion to promote Volunteer Firefighter Brent Spearman to part-time status, at $7.69 per hour, once he has received his state fire card and Mr. Miller seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins, Chairman Shaw and Mrs. Frazee. In the negative: none.

•  Hazmat Truck and Trailer - Knox County EMS has contacted Chief Porter in regards to the county's Hazmat truck and trailer. The County wants to sign the truck and trailer over to the District with the possibility of having the County and City of Mount Vernon to split the cost of insuring the unit. The District would be responsible for all maintenance of the truck and trailer but would be reimbursed for all runs. Accepting the Hazmat truck and trailer would make the District the Hazmat responders of the County, which the District currently is. Should the District accept the unit, the District would have the necessary equipment needed to respond. If the District does not accept the unit then the County will turn the unit back over to the State of Ohio . Prosecutor Thatcher recommended the District compose a Memo of Understanding with the City of Mount Vernon and the County. After discussing the pros and cons of accepting the Hazmat unit, Mr. Jensen made a motion authorizing Chief Porter to prepare a Memo of Understanding between the District, the County and the City of Mount Vernon to be approved by the Board at the next meeting and Mrs. Frazee seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Mr. Miller, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Hawkins, Chairman Shaw and Mrs. Frazee. In the negative: none.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

None

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Central Ohio Joint Fire District, at 9:45 p.m. , Mr. Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Jensen seconded the motion. In the affirmative: Chairman Shaw, Mr. Jensen, Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Miller. In the negative: none. The motion carried and the Board adjourned until the next regular meeting on August 9 th , 2006 , unless called upon for urgent business.