MINUTES
Board of Directors Meeting
Jasper County Emergency Services
June 2nd, 2020
Vice Chairman Wilson called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. Meeting was held at the City of Carthage, City Hall Council Chambers at 326 Grant Street, Carthage, MO as per public notice. Present in addition to Vice Chairman Tim Wilson, Carl Francis, Ron Brewer, Dan Stanley, Greg Dagnan and Chairman Jeff Fries joined at 12:28 p.m. Representing staff was Office Support Clerk Amber Madison and Executive Director April Ford.
Representing Public – Telecommunications Officer Chelsea Finn, Training Coordinator Kima Burnett, and Systems Manager Mike Runnebaum.
Review and Action of Minutes
Open minutes for the Board of Director’s Meeting on May 5th, 2020 were reviewed.
Director Wilson motioned to approve the meeting minutes for May 5th, 2020. Director Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Training Coordinator Kima Burnett asked to approach the Board at 12:13 p.m. Kima Burnett presented a 10-year service award to April Ford. Kima stated that April has been the Executive Director at JASCO for 10 years. Kima advised the Board that JASCO is very lucky to have her as our Director. Director Ford was also given a gift card and hand written notes saying thank you for her service from JASCO employees and JASCO Board members.
Financial Report and Payment of Bills
The sales tax for April was received on May 7th, 2020 in the amount of $146,714.53. We have not received the sales tax check for May or June.
Total bills submitted for approval today $49,884.08. The Checkbook balance after payment of bills will be $19,944.33. Accounts receivable balance: $587.99. (Record Request fee, and Joplin Fiber).
The Money Market account balance is $1,066,147.71.
Executive Director Ford advised that Board that JASCO had an employee go to the Emergency Room for Covid-19 related symptoms back in February. April advised the employee that they could go to the Emergency Room or stay home for 14 days. April would like to have JASCO cover the co pay since she sent the employee to the ER to get tested for Covid-19. Director Dagnan agreed, if he sends his employees to get tested, then he pays what the employee would be out of pocket for. The Jasper County Emergency Services Board agreed that JASCO would cover the employee’s co-pay for this visit. Director Ford advised the Board that Amber Madison is checking to see if Anthem will cover the co-pay for the Covid-19 testing.
Director Stanley motioned to approve the financial report and the payment of the Bills. Director Brewer seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Executive Director Report
See Attached Report
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that she is updating the procedure for our back up phones. April stated that the phones run over VoIP, and they will be in a case and used for backup purposes only. April stated that we have developed an online portal for us to use if we have another pandemic or get to where we can’t process non-emergency calls due to high call volume. April advised the Board that we have a quote for 3 software licenses for ProQa Emergency Medical Dispatch. April advised that she doesn’t want to spend the money on the software right now, but she also stated that we might have to if call volumes continue to increase. April advised the Board that we will be having the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference in September in Springfield. We will be honoring our child hero award and April will receive her Executive Director award. April stated that she is officially in charge for training for the State of Missouri. April has put together a subcommittee, and are setting up online training for PSAP’S to use.
Chairman Fries joined the meeting at 12:28 p.m.
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that she has been contacted by an attorney in reference to the current situation that the Chief of Police for Sarcoxie Police Department is going through. April advised the Board that Chief Corum is not allowed to run/login to Mules for Jasper or Sarcoxie Police Department. April advised the Board that the Special Prosecutor has been assigned and been in touch with her. This information was turned over to the PA’s office by the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator.
Director Dagnan motioned to amend the agenda and move the Life Saver Award to the beginning of the meeting. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Executive Director stated that on February 29, 2020 Chelsea Finn gave lifesaving instructions over the phone for a victim that was not conscious and not breathing. April presented Chelsea Finn with a Life Saver Certificate and a pin. April advised the Board that we might have three more saves that will need to be recognized at a later Board meeting.
At 12:34 pm Chelsea Finn left the Board meeting.
Unfinished Business
Avtec Update
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that AVTEC is still trying to figure out the instant recall issue that we are having. April advised that we are still not paying the final bill until this is fixed. The P25 radio is still having issues and she advised the Board that we are logging these errors and will be working with their support on a solution.
Fire East Tower Agreement
Executive Director Ford stated that the Fire East Agreement has been sent to the other party for review, and we are still waiting to hear back.
Paychex Errors
Executive Director Ford advised the board that Paychex is giving us our 55% discount again. Still waiting for reimbursement on the error.
NexEdge – Radio Equipment Move
Executive Director Ford stated that she has not heard anything from Matt Stoller on the move. The last thing that she heard was that Matt was waiting on a quote from Kurt Bleich for a microwave. Director Dagnan stated that Morris is working on this as well. April stated that JASCO has the money in the budget for a second microwave.
Building Maintenance
Executive Director Ford stated that are having extreme humidity problems with the building. April stated that we have standing water in the bathroom along the wall. April believes that the water seal for the building is not working properly and every time it rains, the humidity gets worse. April is hopeful that if we do the remodel than we could plan for the construction company to fix these problems. April stated for now we have turned the dehumidifier back on for the front lobby.
New Business
MEM Increase – Workers Compensation
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that our workers compensation insurance premium has increased by 28%. April spoke to Kelly with Southwest Agency and Kelly stated that she checked everywhere for a lower price and that 8810-clerical has increased, and that is why our premium went up. April stated that she could reach out to Beimdiek Insurance and see if they could find a better rate if the Board wanted her too. The Board agreed to accept the increase and stay with the same company.
Director Wilson motioned to approve payment for the MEM increase. Director Francis seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Budget Amendment – Software ProQA Additional Licenses x3
Executive Director Ford stated that she would like to go ahead and amend the budget so that she can purchase 3 additional ProQA licenses. The 3 additional licenses would cost $5,625.00. April stated that there are days that we do not have enough licenses for everyone that is on duty. With this purchase we would have a total of 10 licenses.
Director Brewer motioned to approve the budget amendment and the purchase of 3 additional ProQA licenses for the center. Director Wilson seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
NetMotion License Maintenance
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that she sent emails to each agency asking them how many netmotion licenses they have and how many they need. Director Dagnan stated that he will need 12 for now and if he doesn’t need all 12 then he will let April know.
Gov Deals – Telex Equipment/Replacement
Executive Director Ford advised that our items on Gov Deals are set for a reserve of $7,000.00 and we got a bid for $1,250.00 for the telex equipment and a $500.00 bid for the IP224 that we have listed. April stated that we will accept the bid for $1250.00 for the telex and we will decline the bid of $500.0 for the IP224. April advised the Board that we have some metal shelves and an old a/c unit that we need to get rid of. The Board advised for April to list the items on Gov Deals and then scrap them if they do not sell.
MO911SB 9-1-1 Grant Funding
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that Jasper County is eligible for a grant to be used on a new or upgraded to the call handling system. April has been working with Joplin’s Communications Manager Cheryl Konarski and Solacom in reference to a 5-year quote for an upgrade to our current call handling system. April stated that the grant has to be submitted by the end of June, and she would have to have permission from the Board in order to go to the Commission. The only approved applicant is the County Commissioners, so she will need to get their approval and adoption of the resolutions required to apply for the grant. If we receive the grant then the grant could cover up to $250,000.00 of the project. The remainder of the costs would be shared between JASCO and Joplin and this full project is for the equipment upgrade, Text-to-911 integration and 5 years of maintenance and support. With Joplin currently in their budget meetings, they will not approve their budget until the end of October, which will not go into effect until November 1st. This means that JASCO would have to take the full responsibility of the grant and purchase until after the Joplin budget is approved and if approved, JASCO and Joplin could enter into a new MOU and share the remaining costs of the project at that point. The Board would need to approve this grant project and would need to hold a special meeting to approve the information after the Commissioners meet for the adoption of the resolutions. April reported she has an email of intent from Mark Morris at Joplin showing it is in their budget proposal for now.
CARES Act
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that we are keeping track of all of our extra expenses that are being created because of the Covid-19 virus. April stated that she is waiting on the Commissions Office for the process to apply and to see what expenses will be approved and what will not be approved as Covid-19 related. April stated that Christian County is going to try and expand their building with the CARES Act money and replace the county-wide radio system to MOSWIN with CARES Act money. Director Wilson stated that he thought this was clever and not a bad idea. Director Dagnan stated that he thought what Christian County was doing was a bad idea, and didn’t believe that it would pass. April stated that we will continue to keep a list of everything that we are spending because of Covid-19. April stated that she is waiting and watching the bills to see what projects she can proceed with.
12:59 p.m. Director Wilson motioned to adjourn. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.
On the_________________day of ______________________2020____
I, Jeff Fries, Chairman _____________________________________________certify these Jasper County Emergency Services Board Meeting Minutes for___________________________. They have been reviewed and are accurate.
On the __________day of_____________________2020______
I, Dan Stanley, Director __________________________ attest the Jasper County Emergency Services Board Meeting Minutes for _______________________________. They have been reviewed and are accurate.
