HomeMy Public PortalAbout20140130 public safety minutes 1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The January 30, 2014, Public Safety Committee meeting convened at 8:00 a.m. by Councilman
Prather.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Rick Prather, Councilman Larry Henry,
Councilman Carlos Graham, Councilman Rick Mihalevich, and Councilman Ken
Hussey
Guests: Interim City Administrator Drew Hilpert, Assistant City Counselor Jeremy Cover,
Police Chief Roger Schroeder, Interim Fire Chief Jason Turner, Interim Finance
Director Bill Betts, Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Farr, and Police
Personnel Board Chairperson Kelly Dillon.
Approval of Minutes
Councilman Henry made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 31, 2013, committee
meeting. Councilman Mihalevich seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Open Burning
Interim Fire Chief Turner stated the open burning season begins on November 15 th, and
discussed the advantages of moving the beginning of the season back to November 1st. There is
a state holiday within that two-week period in which citizens could burn. That two-week period
is normally good weather to burn leaves. Interim Chief Turner anticipates the number of
responses to nuisance calls for illegal burning would be reduced by beginning the season two
weeks earlier. The fire department normally receives at least 20-30 calls regarding illegal
burning during that two-week period. The burn season ends on March 1st, and city ordinance
does not allow for extending the season past that date. Interim Chief Turner noted he does not
support eliminating burning altogether. The committee agreed to move the issue onto the City
Council for approval.
Fire Department Needs
Interim Fire Chief Turner outlined three critical needs: (1) The garage doors on Station 2 need
replacing. Because of their age, they are worn out and do not always open properly; (2) there are
serious plumbing, piping and sewer issues at Station 2; and (3) exercise equipment (treadmills
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and stair steppers) acquired through a grant, which is very beneficial to the firefighters, is worn
out and need to be replaced. Interim Chief Turner stated the fire department has tried to band aid
these needs in light of budget restraints, but these issues ar e now critical. Many of these
replacement needs were outlined in the Fire Department Improvement Plan developed in 2007.
In prioritizing the needs, Interim Chief Turner stated the replacement of the garage doors in Fire
Station 2 should be completed as soon as possible. The plumbing issues will need to be put out
for bid. The odds of acquiring another grant to replace the exercise equipment are not favorable.
Interim City Administrator Hilpert stated the maintenance budget for the fire department ’s seven
buildings is $40,000. Money in the Reserve Fund is available, but it is too early to know which
accounts will have money available in the future. Councilman Mihalevich noted there is also a
pink sheet for an HVAC system for the police department to consider. Interim City
Administrator Hilpert advised Britt Smith is working on that issue with Chief Schroeder and a
meeting on the HVAC is scheduled for tomorrow. Interim Finance Director Betts stated the
committee could consider a supplemental appropriation, or wait until April-May to review
account balances. Both Councilmen Mihalevich and Prather stated they would like to have solid
figures on the cost of replacing the doors. Councilman Prather stated he would rather see the
money taken out of the general maintenance budget, which can be done immediately without
council approval. Interim Fire Chief Turner will obtain the bids for the replacement of the doors
and report back to the Committee.
Councilman Henry stated the plumbing issues were also serious and he would like cost estimates
for repairs.
St. Joseph School Response
Emergency Management Coordinator Farr advised on January 15th the fire department and
emergency medical personnel were called to St. Joseph Cathedral School because several
children had fallen ill. The police department set up a perimeter for parents, and an ambulance
was used as a staging area. A gas meter was used to check the air which proved to be clear. The
water quality was tested and was also clear. The children were evacuated to the chancellery after
several more students and teachers fell ill. The Department of Natural Resources, Cole County
Health Department and AmerenUe responded to the school. The cause of the illness has not been
determined, but it is suspected that it resulted from a viral infection. Coordinator Farr
commended the fire department and the police department for their assistance. St. Joseph’s
Principal Allen wrote thank you letters commending all emergency service providers.
MDT Grant – Osage Beach – Bill 138
Chief Schroeder stated Bill 138 is an element of an ongoing Central Missouri grant to improve
inter-departmental and intra-departmental communications. Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) were
initially purchased with the grant money, but the grant has expanded to other types of equipment.
Osage Beach experiences communication “dead spots” along Highway 54. Bill 138 proposes to
use approximately $50,000 in grant money to purchase equipment to remedy this situation.
Councilman Hussey made a motion to move Bill 138 onto the City Council for approval.
Councilman Graham seconded the motion. Motion passed.
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Introductory Period for Police Officers
Chief Schroeder stated the genesis for this change in policy came from Police Captain Clark.
There is an inequity in the introductory period for police officers, and the change in policy would
exclude academy training time from the introductory period. The one-year introductory period
for police officers would commence on the date of their commission. This would allow a full
year of duty on which to evaluate the officer. Chief Schroeder introduced Kelly Dillon,
Chairperson of the Police Personnel Board, and stated the Board has approved the proposed
change. Assistant City Counselor Cover has prepared the proposed ordinance. Councilman
Graham made a motion to move the proposed ordinance on to the City Council for approval.
Councilman Henry seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Set Meeting Date/Time
After discussion, the committee decided the date of the Public Safety Committee meetings will
remain the same, the Thursday prior to the first council meeting of each month, and will begin at
7:30 a.m. The meeting date and time will be reviewed after the new council is installed in April.
OTHER BUSINESS
In response to inquiry from Councilman Graham regarding police department staffing, Chief
Schroeder advised he can employ four police officers and three communications operators at this
time. There are currently an additional seven inactive positions, which excludes those absent for
medical injuries, military and those positions vacated by SIP. Police officer and communications
operator hiring processes are in progress, and Chief Schroeder hopes to fill all seven vacancies.
Interim Fire Chief Turner advised the fire department has three vacant positions due to the SIP
program. The fire department will not test for firefighters until October 2014.
Councilman Mihalevich requested a status on the repairs of the outdoor warning sirens at the
next Public Safety Committee meeting. In explanation as to why the decision to repair the sirens
took a considerable amount of time, Interim City Administrator Hilpert advised the City was
waiting on the insurance to make a decision. He stated if this were to happen again, the City
would make the repairs and deal with the insurance company afterwards. Assistant City
Administrator Hilpert estimated the normal period of time for the financial process to approve
repairs should be one to two months. Assistant City Counselor Cover advised there was
considerable analysis into the investigation of the cause of the damage to the sirens because the
damage was highly unusual.
In response to expressed concerns about siren coverage during the repair process, Emergency
Management Coordinator Farr stated the City’s outdoor warning siren system overlaps with the
County system. There is enough overlap that all areas would be covered. Chief Schroeder offered
a reminder that these are outdoor warning sirens. Citizens should utilize radios and televisions
for weather updates.
Councilman Graham thanked Police Personnel Board Chairperson Kelly Dillon for her service to
the City.
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Councilman Henry, referring specifically to the fire department needs, stated he would prefer to
know about needed repairs before they are critical, even if money is not immediately available in
the budget for repairs/replacement. The City Council should be notified of these issues as they
occur.
Adjourn
Councilman Hussey made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Mihalevich seconded
the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:52 a.m.