DRAFT
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BUILDING, TECHNOLOGY
& ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/SAFETY COMMITTTEE
MINUTES
Monday,
December 10, 2007
Meeting Called to Order by Chairperson at 6:08 p.m.
Members Present: Commissioners
Elmo Hoaglund, Ron Sikkema and Mark Brock.
Others: Susan Vander
Pol – Osceola County Coordinator, Mark Watkins – Emergency Management Director,
Samantha Cass – EMD & Region 6 Planner, Laurie Smalla – Meceola Central
Dispatch Director, Dave Beldin – Reed City Fire Department, Ed Nettle –
Emergency Medical Services Director, Mark Gregory- LeRoy – Rose Lake Fire
Department, Jack Boden - Hersey Fire Department, Scott Hilgeman - Lincoln Fire
Department and David Williams – Emergency Management Support Services.
Additions or Deletions to the Agenda - None.
Motion by Commissioner Sikkema, supported by Commissioner
Hoaglund to approve the agenda. Motion
was unanimously supported.
Public Comments - None.
Employee Comments – None.
Motion by Commissioner Sikkema, supported by Commissioner
Hoaglund to approve the minutes of January 30, 2007 and April 3, 2007. Motion was unanimously supported.
Old Business:
Osceola Communications System Presentation – Emergency
Management.
Mark Watkins, Emergency Management Director, presented
information in a power point presentation for the Osceola County Emergency
Radio System Project Overview. Mark
reviewed changes in the radio communications and systems, back in 1996 and 1997
when the new system was created until present time. He reviewed some of the problems currently
experienced with the communication system.
The antennas have been
switched and this has made some improvement in communications. This summer with leaves on the trees the
service may change. Mark would like to
change the south tower from an EMS/Fire/Law tower to a receive/transmit
tower. They would like to move the
antennas up the tower. It will need to
be reconfigured so it does not just beam to the North. Mark Gregory said it originally was made this
way to go over the dirt hill to point to the North. It may be they won’t need to have the duplex
if they can move everything up the tower.
Mark Watkins said all of the antennas have been licensed for the same
height. The county just can’t go over
that height. We may need to look at
moving antennas closer if the studies allow it; or move closer and duplex off
in directions. EMS is a simplex system
and has never been a repeater system. A
study is being done for wind load on the tower if the antennas are moved. The majority
of the cost for this project will be for the climbers to have the antennas
moved.
Commissioner Hoaglund
asked Mark for an estimate of the expenditures to make these changes. Mark estimated climbers to be around $2,000
and retooling to be around $1,000. He
does not have an estimate
for the cost of moving
the antennas up. He estimates the whole
project would not exceed an estimated $10,000.
Mark stated through grant dollars they have some extra
equipment and have purchased some extra antennas. Mark Gregory stated he can hear the South
tower now from his home. Marion can hear
the tower also. It is not always great,
but Marion can hear it now. Mark Gregory
thought if the changes were made to the tower and antennas, it could be a 50 to
75 % better setup then we have now.
Laurie Smalla, Meceola Central Dispatch Director said they
are updating their consoles and radio system at 911. They have a grant that will enable them to
move forward with this project and review systems for both counties.
Susan Vander Pol, Osceola County Coordinator, presented
information on funding general maintenance issues with the tower. For law enforcement, there has always been
money in the Sheriff’s Department budget in the 980.000 for tower maintenance
as well as radios. There have been
administrative changes in the department over the years and it is unknown how
much information was passed on from the previous administration regarding the
tower. In years past, general
maintenance has been done by the Sheriff’s Department.
Ed Nettle, EMS Director, reviewed how the radio system
worked with the townships and Missaukee County.
The frequencies are licensed under the various agencies, but the
counties do the maintenance in both Missaukee and Mecosta counties.
Discussion was held on filling the propane tank and the
building for the tower. It was asked to
have the Coordinator’s Office check previous minutes for discussion on this
topic. Mark stated the tank is at about
20%. There were questions on whose
responsibility it is to have it filled, and where the bill would be paid. Discussion was held on various options but it
was felt this facility is a county facility just like the other buildings in
the county that are paid for from the general fund. All general fund gas/heat bills are paid from
the 101.290.920.000. It was expressed
this should be no different. Susan was
asked to contact vendors, establish an account for a “keep full” service and
work with maintenance to have the tank filled and monitored.
Discussion was held regarding the FAA light being out on the top of the tower. Mark Watkins has contacted the Sheriff’s Department regarding this. He does not know if a repair ticket has been ordered and it is in process of being repaired. He will check with the Sheriff or Undersheriff regarding this.
Discussion was held on having a heating/cooling system for
the tower building. Emergency Management
has a space heater they can put in there for right now. It is believed this is what was done last
winter. Emergency Management will work
on getting additional proposals for a heat/cool baseboard climate control
service to be presented to the Board of Commissioners at a later date.
Mark stated someone needs to be in charge of communications
for Osceola County. Emergency Management
plays a certain role right now. If all
of the maintenance and budget for the tower is placed in the Sheriff’s
Department budget, then all of the choice for vendors would also rest with one
individual department. Fire or EMS may
not be happy with the vendor or what is done on the tower. The various groups (County Board of
Commissioners, Sheriff, EMS, Fire) need to come up with a plan involving all of
the departments and groups. Emergency
Management could be the single point of communications, and they are willing to
do it, but all parties (County Board, EMS, Fire, Sheriff Department) should all
be in agreement with it.
Jack Boden mentioned with the
Emergency Management Update –
Emergency Management has been working on the communications project. Dan Dowdy from Mecosta County will be retiring. Mecosta County is currently doing
interviews. Mark feels this will change
how we operate in Osceola County, as they network with Dan a lot.
Fire Association Update – Mark
Gregory said the Fire Association has also been working on communications with
the radio system. The EMS Director, Ed
Nettle is working well with the departments.
New Business - None.
Employee Comments - None.
Extended Public Comments (Six Minute Limit) - None.
Motion by Commissioner Sikkema, supported by Commissioner
Hoaglund to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. Motion
was unanimously supported.