MINUTES
Board of Directors Meeting
Jasper County Emergency Services
September 7th 2021
Vice Chairman Wilson called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Meeting was held at the Board office, 13870 Dispatch Lane, Carthage, MO as per public notice. Present in addition to Vice Chairman Wilson, Carl Francis, James Harrison, Dan Stanley, and Greg Dagnan arrived at 12:10 p.m. Chairman Fries arrived at 12:16 p.m. Representing staff was Executive Director (ED Ford) April Ford and Office Support Clerk Amber Madison.
Public present was Brian Harper, Denise Gibbs with NRoute. Also, present Steven Williams with JASCO.
Consent Agenda
Director Harrison motioned to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. The motion was adopted.
Review and Action of Minutes
Open meeting minutes were reviewed for the Board of Director’s Meetings on August 9th, 2021.
Director Stanley motioned to approve the open meeting minutes for August 9th, 2021. Director Harrison seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. The motion was adopted.
Public Comment and Correspondence
Brian Harper and Denise Gibbs with NRoute introduced themselves to the Board.
Financial Report and Payment of Bills
The sales tax deposit for July was received on August 6th, 2021 in the amount of $173,775.64. We have not received the sales tax check August or September.
Total bills submitted for approval today $57,939.72
Checkbook balance after payment of bills will be $14,906.99
Accounts receivable balance: $595.44. (Records Request and Joplin Fiber).
The Money Market account balance is $1,525,877.41.
Director Stanley motioned to approve the financial report and the payment of the Bills. Director Francis seconded the motion. Vote: 4-0. The motion was adopted.
Executive Director Report
See Attached Report
ED Ford advised the Board that past Executive Director William (Bill) Cade passed away in August.
At 12:10 p.m. Director Dagnan arrived.
ED Ford advised the Board that she would like to go ahead and purchase the memorial bollards that would be used for past employees/Board members that have passed away. ED Ford will talk to the architect about the bollards. ED Ford advised the Board that we did receive the grant for $250,000.00 and April will get with Mark Morris on reimbursement. ED Ford stated that she would be getting quotes on purchasing some refurbished radios for testing. April will be contacting Sonny Communications in Colorado. ED Ford advised the Board that she has been waiting on an AT&T busy study for Joplin 9-1-1 trunks still for the phone system.
At 12:16 p.m. Chairman Fries arrived.
ED Ford spoke to the Board about the AT&T product and capabilities with Joplin’s 911 trunks. ED Ford advised the Board that she is looking into a production team to try and make a recruitment video for the Center. ED Ford advised the Board that the suicide awareness hotline is getting closer to their go live date. April advised that there are some PSAP’s that are co-locating with their local 9-8-8 and 9-1-1. April will be checking into this, and she believes that it would be beneficial to everyone. The Board agreed that having individuals with the suicide training would be beneficial. The Board approved for April to connect with the crisis intervention team that is handling 9-8-8. ED Ford stated that we are looking into the possibility of having a service dog at the Center to help with stress. ED Ford advised the Board that Fire West is getting worse, Command One has tested several things, but they are not finding anything. April advised the Board that Cox Hospital has a radio in Delaware County that might be interfering. ED Ford advised the Board that Joplin Fire Chiefs came and toured the Center. April advised the Board that Joplin’s Communications Manager and Sgt. Wolf came to JASCO to discuss the phone system and staffing. April advised the Board that they are coming up with a plan for assisting Joplin, if needed.
Unfinished Business
Avtec Update
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that there are no new updates with Avtec right now.
MOSWIN Update
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that Steven is taking the lead on the JCSO Moswin project and working with NRoute. ED Ford stated that the halo that we were told that was not connected is connected. April stated that the engineer is wanting to put 4 more antennas on the tower, they want to keep the antennas below 20ft. NRoute advised that they will try and use the existing halo. Jim with Motorola told April that the consoles need to be grounded differently to meet R56 compliance. April is getting quotes together and should be up and live with JCSO on the MOSWIN system in November.
Building Maintenance/Expansion/Parking Lot Update
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that Anderson Engineering has started the project. Dig rite came out and marked the lines. We will have to have an individual come out and may cut the electric to the lighted sign. April will get bids together for the work. April advised the Board that the property to the north of JASCO has changed hands. April will be talking to the neighbors about purchasing the property.
CPE/9-1-1 Phone System Replacement
Executive Director Ford stated that we got the Grant, and we will have contracts to sign soon. April advised the Board that we will go directly with Intrado if AT&T can’t provide the needed information.
Overtime Compensation
Office Support Clerk Amber Madison advised the Board that the employees are signing up for shifts and are appreciative of the overtime compensation change. Amber presented a spreadsheet to the Board showing what has been spent on overtime, and she advised the Board that employees are covering shifts easier. The Board agreed to keep this temporary policy in place for this month. The Board advised that they would approve or deny the compensation on a month to month basis.
Ensuring Rapid Dispatching of 9-1-1 and Non-Emergency Calls for Service
Executive Director Ford stated that we will be doing a wage study soon. Other 9-1-1 Centers in our area are starting out at $15.00+ per hour. Director Dagnan and Director Francis stated that they would send OSC Madison the information that they have for the last wage study that they completed.
At 12:46 p.m. Director Harrison stepped out of the meeting.
ED Ford also stated that we will need to add staff to the Center. However, we are having a hard time finding employees.
At 12:49 p.m. Director Harrison came back into the meeting.
Cyber Security Insurance
Executive Director Ford stated that Amber is working with our insurance company to try and get quotes for additional Cyber Security Insurance. The Board advised April to make sure that she gets a 2, 4 and a 6-million-dollar coverage quote.
New Business
Ordinance – Sales Tax Increase and Reporting to Department of Revenue
Executive Director Ford stated she spoke to our Attorney Frank and that Foster made a mistake. Foster advised April that we could charge domestic utilities if we wanted to. If we want to charge domestic utilities, then we would need to revise the ordinance. The Board discussed whether to charge domestic utilities or not. The Board agreed not to charge domestic utilities at this time. Therefore, a revision of the ordinance is not needed.
Budget Amendment – Grant Revenue 43400 / Board Misc. Exp – Grant Share 60117
Executive Director Ford requested the ability to add an additional GL (general ledger code) in our QuickBooks Budget. The new GL 43400 would be used for the phone grant monies that will be received. The new GL 60117 would be the expense line for the project expense and grants that would be shared.
Director Dagnan motioned to approve the additional GL codes 43400 and 60117. Director Wilson seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Budget Amendment – JASCO Vehicles – RM 61421 / New 60011 – 60013
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that her Ford Explorer is back in the shop. The rear differential is needing to be replaced. ED Ford requested the ability to purchase a Tahoe off of state bid that is going on for $47,000.00. The Board discussed the possibility of purchasing a 3rd vehicle, but at this time they will not purchase a vehicle. The Board agreed for April to budget for a new vehicle for the radio project for the 2022 budget.
Countywide Public Safety Radio System
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that she can purchase 7 portable single band radios for testing for what she has available in the budget. JASCO would use them for testing and then also keep them for future events like Marian Days, Incident Response incidents. Brian Harper with NRroute advised the Board that his company could loan JASCO radios for testing. The Board agreed to borrow the radios from NRoute.
Fire West continued testing
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that we are still testing Fire West.
Policy – Recruitment Incentive / Increase Incentive
Executive Director Ford and the Board discussed the recruitment incentive policy that JASCO has in place. ED Ford advised the Board that we have been giving $100 incentive if an employee recruits and that person stays for a year. She was asking to look at increasing this amount. The Board discussed this looking like a bonus and decided not to make a change at this time. They stated we may want to make that a part of someone’s job in the future and pay them to recruit. ED Ford will look further into how other agencies are doing this, as some are giving bonuses, stipends and incentive pay.
Surplus Inventory
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that we have a master repeater that is on the surplus list and need to be put on Gov Deals.
Director Wilson motioned to approve the item for surplus. Director Francis seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Jasper County Emergency Services Board announced to close for personnel records and evaluations pursuant to Mo. Statute Section 610.021 (3) (13).
1:28 p.m. Director Francis motioned to go into closed session. Director Wilson seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Vote: Fries – In Favor
Dagnan – In Favor
Stanley – In Favor
Harrison – In Favor
Wilson – In Favor
Francis – In Favor
At 1:32 p.m. Director Dagnan left the meeting.
At 1:33 p.m. Office Support Clerk Amber Madison left the meeting.
1:37 p.m. Director Wilson motioned to come out of closed session. Director Francis seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Vote: Fries – In Favor
Stanley – In Favor
Harrison – In Favor
Wilson – In Favor
Francis – In Favor
1:37 p.m. Director Wilson motioned to adjourn. Director Francis seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5th at 12:00 p.m.
On the________ day of ________________2021
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_________________2021
I, Dan Stanley, Director __________________________ attest the Jasper County Emergency Services Board Meeting Minutes for ___________________________. They have been reviewed and are accurate.
