SOURDOUGH RURAL FIRE DISTRICT Regular Meeting Minutes, April 19, 2004

Regular Meeting Minutes, April 19, 2004

The regular monthly meeting of the Sourdough Rural Fire District was called to order by Chairman Kraft at 7:40 PM on April 19, 2004. All trustees were present. Also present were Chief Crandell, Bookkeeper Scott Mueller, replacement Bookkeeper Audrea Bloch, and COC Kandy Rose.

• Agenda Review: (Prior to the meeting Brian briefed the Trustees on a fire call to Grace Bible Church, earlier in the day. The fire was confined to the immediate vicinity of an exhaust fan in a rest room. Preplan and church personnel response training paid off with efficient response and minimal damage.)
• Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 22 were presented. Geddes moved for approval and Dayhuff seconded. Passed and placed in the record.
• Treasure Report was presented having previously been made available at the station by Audrea Bloch, who was welcomed to SFD by the Trustees. Geddes moved for approval and to sign warrants > $300 and Dayhuff seconded. Passed and placed in the record. The trustees invited Audrea to attend a few meetings to observe how the board functions, and then asked if she would appear quarterly thereafter. The county budget request forms were received and Pete will send the interim figures to the county finance officer.
• Kandy Rose asked the board for direction on establishing the dedication date for the Cottonwood Station. The date selected at the March meeting presented schedule conflict, so September 12 was selected. At that time the solar power array will be presented as a demonstration project to the community, with NCAT and NW energy personnel in attendance. Kandy brought public comment to the Trustees from Sara Johnson in Triple Tree about the difficulty of keeping residents interested in fire service, when they believe that their insurance coverage is the extent of their interest. Denny and Pat Klewin requested SFD to approach the County Commission regarding fireworks regulation. The chief stated that we have commented in the CUP process stressing compliance with code.
• The regular meeting was adjourned into executive session with the Chief present. All others left. Executive session convened at 7:57 PM.
• Executive session was adjourned at 9:40 and the Regular meeting reconvened at that time.
• Concerning the executive session, Geddes will prepare an addendum memo to the document titled “Annual Evaluation of the Sourdough Fire Department Chief Brian Crandell” which will be presented for signature at the May Regular meeting which will address the evaluation process.
• The Chief's report including the run report was presented and placed in the record. Discussion centered on the continuing issue of subdivision/structure review in the context of the Heritage Christian school complex to be developed within the RAE jurisdiction.
• The Chief's Facility and Apparatus Budget report was presented and placed in the record. Very few actionable items remain in the Cottonwood Station project and the Trustees requested that a final report be presented at the May meeting. The station is essentially operable and is being used for training. The snow-drop canopy and communication tower stabilization are the remaining items.
• The truck is nearing completion, but is held up on small parts availability. Delivery should be in mid-May.
• Under trustees activity, Bachman reported he has asked Susan Swimley to review the By-Laws and communicate suggested revision items for consideration at the May meeting. Bachman also reported that the Web server has changed to “Viciedo Web Development” Brian told the Trustees that Montana Connect has gone bust, thus the change in server. Kevin Oliver, SFD firefighter is monitoring their performance.
• Cottonwood Station Landscaping. Kraft said that there will be a sod donation for about 2000 square feet when we're ready. He will also blow grass seed on a roughly prepared surface in the near future. This will help choke out weeds, prior to final landscape development which will occur in the spring of 2005 when budgeted money is available.

• The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 PM

Submitted by acting Secretary Pete Geddes