Minutes of the

St. Clair County Fire Chiefs

 and

 MABAS Division 32 Meeting

 

March 30, 2006

 

Meeting called to order by President Feher at 7:00pm

 

President Feher introduced Courtney with the Muscular Distrophy Association. Courtney highlighted what MDA does and talked about the boot drives that fire departments hold.  MDA is looking at having another successful boot drive again this year. 

 

Ed Scott and Kent Berry with Ameren/IP were introduced.  Ed talked about the response of Ameren/IP for gas emergencies and gas safety.  Ed gave the following number for fire departments to use to report emergencies to Ameren/IP - 1-800-767-8048.  Brochures were also made available that highlighted emergencies that Ameren/IP may become involved in. The gas division is presently working on their safety programs and their personnel will be required to wear personal protective clothing in the near future before shutting off natural gas.  This will delay the amount of time it is going to take for Ameren/IP personnel to get the gas shut off once they arrive on scene.  Each person will have level one clothing in their response vehicle.  Level 2 clothing is kept on the emergency gas trailer.  The question was asked about faxing or emailing requests for service to the call center.  We will get a fax number to the dispatch center.  

 

Don then introduced Ed Morgan who was representing the fire sprinkler industry.  Ed showed a video about home sprinkler systems.  Facts about the savings on insurance premiums were given as well as facts about the loss of property and life with a sprinkler versus without.  Cost for installation of a system is approximately $2.50 per square foot.  For additional information, visit the website at www.homefiresprinkler.org.  Local 268 has a working trailer that demonstrates sprinkler activation.

 

Motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the January 2006 meeting.  Motion passed

 

Treasurer’s report was given showing 16,304.93 in the chief’s account and 3,896.43 in the MABAS 32 account, for a total checking account balance of 20,201.36.  Motion was made and seconded to accept the report.  Motion passed.

 

ESDA – Bob Knight advised the county will be getting the I-tech trailer.  4 persons will be getting trained in August and will be bringing the trailer back to the county.  Additional persons will be need to help with the trailer.  NIMS training packets were sent out.  ESDA will be hosting the 100 and 700 class in April. 

 

SCSESA – a building has been obtained in Sauget to house all of the vehicles owned by SCSESA and future vehicles will be coming.  Monies may become available from the state to assist with fixing up the building.

 

SWIC – Spring enrollment went real well.  Bids came back on the new building over the projected costs.  The college is looking for additional funds to cover the costs.  The burn building is in use and going well.  The college fire science program and SCSESA are having problems with the usage of the training site and equipment.  SCSESA has sent SWIC a letter severing all ties with the college for use of SCSESA equipment for training purposes.  The SCSESA board will be reviewing the situation and will get the situation resolved. 

 

Questionnaire will be coming from the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association for information for the newly formed volunteer chief officers section.  Make sure you send it back in.  It can be done online also.  This will address some of the issues that are concerns statewide about the fire service. 

 

STARRS – Looking for a site to host a drill on August 9th.  The drill will work around a structural collapse or failure.  At least one division of the Marines will be participating in the drill.  Anyone aware of a building that can be used, contact Greg Render asap.  Must go before the board next month.  Tech rescue vehicle will be here in June and well as a first out haz-mat vehicle.  Some training classes will be coming soon.

 

President Feher would like the approval of the association to form an advisory committee for St. Clair Special Emergency Services.  Motion was made and seconded for the president to set up the committee.  Motion passed.

 

Bill Lindauer with Smithton Fire Department is failing in his health.  A card was passed around for departments to sign wishing Bill well.

 

Dean Heitman with O’Fallon Fire District passed away last week.

 

The governor has appointed a new fire marshal – Dave Foreman.  His appointment must still be confirmed by the senate and the house.

 

Jerry Brewer is working on rewriting the Incident Command SOG’s.  Comments should be forwarded to Jerry or Brent Saunders.

 

 

 

The mass and awards ceremony will be held on April 23rd at Grace Church in Fairview.  15 persons will be receiving awards this year.  Chester Borkowski put together cost estimates to host the ceremony of $1750.00.  Motion was made and seconded to approve the costs.  Motion passed. 

 

Fire Grants are due next week.  Safer Act grants should be coming out next month.  Fire Prevention grant should open around July or August.

 

IFCA Education Foundation sent a letter about the scholarship program. Motion was made and seconded to get a scholarship for $250.00.  Motion passed.

 

Motion as made and seconded to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned at 8:53pm

 

MABAS divison 32 meeting was called to order at 8:53pm by President Feher.

 

Greg attended the MABAS meeting in January.  He voted on the reorganization and the dues structure as directed by the division.  The reorganization and dues structure did pass at the board meeting.  Most departments would see dues to MABAS at about $100 to $150 per year.  A couple of departments would see dues a little higher than that. 

 

Two incident management kits will be coming. 

 

Each department will be receiving a giger counter this summer also.

 

Pelican cases were brought back from the MABAS conference.  They will be passed out to the departments in the county.  MABAS indicated that they were going to provide the software to reprogram the Interoperability radios.  That has not come in yet.  The grey frequency cannot be used at this time.

 

Information was sent out via email about decontamination trucks that are currently being built.  One of these trucks is scheduled to be assigned to Division 32.  Motion was made and seconded to accept the trailer.  Motion passed.

 

 Signal Hill will be hosting open house and building dedication on Sunday April 2nd.

 

Lee Smith passed out advocacy statements and a special operations team directive. 

 

Advocacy Statement #1 – Box alarm system – Motion was made and seconded to accept this statement as written.  Motion passed.

 

Advocacy Statement #2 – VHF Radio Communications Interoperability – Motion was made and seconded to accept this statement as written.  Motion passed.

 

Special Operations Team Directive #1 – Motion was made and seconded to accept the directive as written.  Motion passed.

 

Payouts from the Katrina response have been received and all have been passed out with the exception of Freeburg.  Division 32 did receive its reimbursement for expenses.

 

Motion was made and seconded to Adjourned.  Motion passed.  Meeting was adjourned at 9:30pm.

 

Next meeting will be at Maeystown