Friday, August 31, 2018
Lee Fuller
1. Call to order
2. Roll call – all present
3. Budget discussion for fiscal year 2019 Fire and Police
Fire Chief: Informed the council that 100% of packs tested and passed standards. He suggested postponing purchasing new packs because the only standard not passing is low valve release. 29 packs are required for the department. There is the option to purchase in a staggered manner or wait and purchase as the need arises. Currently the packs range in age from 10 years old to 6 years old. Council put forth the idea that starting in FY2020 implementing a staggered 4 year plan to renew and rotate packs so that the old ones can be rotated out of service.
The fire department is requesting a new ambulance. The smaller van ambulances cost around $95,000 to $100,000 vs $140,000 for a large box ambulance that is currently being used. The opinion expressed by the Fire Chief was that the smaller ambulance would not give any external storage and would not meet the department’s needs.
Per the Chief, EMS transport is a concern in future years. The cost is going to be much greater due to longer distance to emergency facilities. The department is also requesting an increase of budget for advanced EMS training so more critical care can be delivered while in route to a facility. Currently patients would not get critical care due to the level of EMS training and the route is approximately 12-15 min longer to get to a nearby facility due to the closing of Jacksonville RMC.
The department advised they would like to add an ambulance and three additional EMS staff so the department would be able handle more 911 calls. The department further stated that they would still not have adequate staffing for scheduled medical transport. In order to handle revenue producing scheduled calls, they would require a dedicated transport ambulance. This request is not included in the budget.
Fuel cost has increased to $17,000.
The training budget allotment would provide EMS certification for three currently in school and three additional EMS certified staff.
When asked by the council if the EMS transportation service was a money generating service the reply was that it not a profitable service, however it does break even with costs.
The council then discussed the pros and cons of going with an outside private EMS agency, but concern of how many dedicated ambulances would be for the citizens of Jacksonville and if the community would not be better served with City provided EMS services. Most felt the City services were better for the citizens and talk was tabled at this time.
Additional budgetary request were made to get education for training to deal with structural collapse. The department advised that Jacksonville does not have any trained staff that is certified in structural collapse.
Increase in budget is required to meet with Government mandated changes that all ambulances must be cot loading ambulances. This new mandate went into effect last year and is roughly a $25,000 expense per ambulance.
The Fire Department currently receives a SAFER Grant that is expiring in January. This grant provides about $30,000 every three months. Remaining on the grant is $70,000.
Budget request for a heavy duty trailer to enable response on two fronts was made. Grant is pending to cover the $27,000 cost. If the grant is given the expenses could be deducted from the budget.
A request for an additional trailer at the expense of $10,000 was made. The reasons provided for the need were that all the decontamination equipment for Calhoun county is located in Jacksonville and is present, but there is no way to currently transport it.
In October a grant is going to be requested for a hook and ladder truck. If the grant is received the $900,000 truck would only cost the City $100,000, but if the grant is not given the truck will not be requested. If granted the $100,000 would come from the fire tax and is not currently included in any budgetary items.
$234,000 is being requested from the fire tax to cover the trailers and new ambulance. The rest would remain untouched to create more of a surplus for needs in future years.
A budget request also included an Assistant Chief vehicle replacement. The current vehicle has 50,000 miles. The Assistant Chief vehicle would then be re-purposed for use as a school vehicle.
The current budget is not updated, however an updated budget will be submitted. Changes were made last week such as retirement and insurance costs increase. The budget has to be re-balanced and will be submitted once completed.
Police Chief: Per the Chief equipment needs are large part of budget request.
Budgetary request was made for two additional Tasers to insure all personnel on a shift possessed one. At the council’s request they would like to look into the cost of getting each officer on the department a Taser so that during shift change all are equipped.
Budgetary request was made for new car cameras totaling $11,000.
Another large discussion was the desire to join in a crime sharing center here in Jacksonville. The purpose would be to help coordinate between multiple jurisdictions. The department is currently in talks with Jefferson County and Oxford to see the exact cost and commitment that would be required. The estimated amount is $125,000 and is not currently in the budget
The Chief stated he is retiring December 1st.
A date was set for September 4th at 6pm for the other city departments such as the library, land fill, and all other outside agencies to present their budget. Animal control requested to present tonight as they would not be available on the 4th.
Animal control’s only modification from FY2018 was an employee retirement. No additional changes requested from last year.
The $17,000 annual contract with Calhoun County Animal Control was discussed and the council requested that they look into the option of a per animal charge option vs the annual contract.
4. Adjournment for 5 min break for called.
September 1, 2018
*EDITOR CHANGE: The proper term for the equipment needed on a new ambulance is “Cot loading”. We originally reported it was “Top loading”, and the reserve left over from the grant is $70,000, we missed a zero and wrote $7,000. Both changes have been made in the original article.
**An additional line was added to show what would happen to the Assistant Chief vehicle being re-purposed to the school.
