MINUTES
Board of Directors Meeting
Jasper County Emergency Services
January 4th, 2022
Chairman Fries 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 Chairman Fries, Tim Wilson, Carl Francis, James Harrison, Greg Dagnan, and Dan Stanley. Executive Director Ford attempted to call Director Brewer twice via her cell phone. Representing staff was Executive Director (ED Ford) April Ford and Office Support Clerk Amber Madison.
Chairman Fries stated that we need a motion to move the discussion for the Board Position to the beginning of the agenda.
Vice Chairman Wilson motioned to move the Board Position to the beginning of the agenda. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 6-0. The motion was adopted.
Chairman Fries advised the Board that he is resigning from the Board because he has moved out of Jasper County. Chairman Fries turned in his letter of resignation. Director Ford read the letter to the Board. At 12:06 p.m. Vice Chairman Wilson took over the meeting.
Director Dagnan motioned to accept Jeffrey Fries letter of resignation from the Jasper County Emergency Services Board. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Executive Director Ford presented Jeff Fries with a retirement from the Board award. Jeff Fries has been a large supporter for the 911 Center. ED Ford advised the Board that she sent in the information for non-election. Director Harrison will be sworn in as the new Board Chairman on April 8th, 2022. Director Ron Brewer, and Bill Hawkins will also be sworn in as Western and Eastern Directors. ED Ford advised the Board members that May 1st, 2022, is the deadline for Board members to complete their Personal Financial Disclosures. Jeff Fries will also have to file a personal financial disclosure for 2022 and 2023. ED Ford advised that Vice Chairman Wilson will run the Board meetings until the new Board Chairman is sworn in. ED Ford advised the Board that Jeffrey Fries will also need to be removed from all of Jasper County Emergency Services accounts including safety deposit box, Visa, and all Southwest Missouri Bank accounts.
Director Stanley motioned to remove Jeffrey Fries from all of the accounts associated with the Jasper County Emergency Services Board. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted
Review and Action of Minutes
Open and closed meeting minutes were reviewed for the Board of Director’s Meetings held on December 7th, 2021.
Director Harrison motioned to approve the open and closed meeting minutes for December 7th, 2021. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Public Comment and Correspondence
No public comment
Financial Report and Payment of Bills
ED Ford advised the Board that she is working with AT&T on billing issues, we are being billed for our new trunk lines and our old trunk lines. Director Francis asked how of an increase have we seen since receiving the new sales tax rate? ED Ford reminded the Board that we will not collect additional funds from the Sales tax increase until January 1st, 2022.
The sales tax deposit for November was received on December 7th, 2021, in the amount of $187,156.99. We have not received the sales tax check for December or January.
Total bills submitted for approval today $86,634.31.
Checkbook balance after payment of bills will be $28,748.63.
Accounts receivable balance: $598.13 (Records Request, & Joplin Fiber).
The Money Market account balance is $1,775,101.43.
Director Stanley motioned to approve the financial report and payment of bills. Director Harrison seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Executive Director Report
See Attached Report
ED Ford advised the Board that we will also have to add another Director to the Service Committee. Vice Chairman Wilson stated that he will step in as a Service Committee Member until May. ED Ford advised the Board that she spoke to Ben Vogt with the Jasper County Juvenile Detention Center about dispatching for them. ED Ford also spoke to Adam Blankenship, she advised him that we would need to see if all of the Police Chiefs were fine with the Juvenile Detention using Law 1 and Law 2. April advised the Board that she would want to do the training for their officers. That way the officers follow the same procedures that we have for the other Law agencies. April will talk to Steve Norman or Ben Vogt about this further. ED Ford advised the Board that she asked Sheriff Kaiser about repayment for the consoles. Repayment would be around $238,000.00 bill and seven-year maintenance. ED Ford applauded the hard work that Brandon McClintock and Kima Burnett are doing, they are both working the console because we are shorthanded and have employees out sick with Covid. April advised the Board that we are splitting up the Training Coordinator and the Quality Assurance position. April advised the Board that Amber Madison is helping Kima Burnett with QA’s because we are busy. April is accepting resumes and letters of interest for the Training Coordinator position. April advised the Board that we might be losing two full time employees. We also have one employee under investigation. Keylee Burbridge last day is January 14th, 2022. April advised the Board that we have five employees out with Covid right now. April stated that we completed all of the interviews with TUSA, most agencies stated 50% capacity coverage with their NexEdge radios off the county towers. Carterville Fire Department didn’t show up to complete their interview so we did it by phone. April advised the Board that we might have to rebuild Fire West or look at an in vehicle repeater for the 1st engines out. If we still have problems, then we will have to file a complaint with the FCC to change the frequency. April advised the Board that the Avilla tower is causing huge issues with law agencies. Jasper Police Department stated 10% capacity coverage on the NexEdge system off the Avilla tower with it being down. Morris has a crew going out to install equipment. TUSA will be ready to present their needs assessment in mid-January. We will then have to move fast to create and get an RFP out. Joplin has not advised anything in reference to the radio system. Joplin City Manager and Police Chief did not attend our last meeting. The Chief was called away when he pulled in. ED Ford advised the Board that she filed the non-election paperwork and the Jasper County Clerk’s office advised for us to use the Carthage Chronicle for non-election publication. April advised the Board that we will be attending the ceremony at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office for Deputy Corbett on January 11th, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Our team that was on duty during Deputy Corbett’s medical emergency has also received an award for MOAPCO and is receiving an award from the Sheriff’s Office. ED Ford advised the Board that Systems Manager Mike Runnebaum will be retiring on January 28th, 2022.
Unfinished Business
Countywide Public Safety Radio System-Needs Assessment
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that we should have the needs assessment by mid-January. We borrowed seven radios and handed them out to Departments for testing. Sarcoxie Rural Fire Dept, Sarcoxie Fire Dept, Carl Junction Fire Dept, Webb City Fire Dept, Carthage Fire Dept, Carterville Police Dept, Jasper Fire Dept, and Oronogo Fire Dept are all testing until Thursday January 6th. We will collect the radios on January 6th and then pass them out to the other agencies for testing. The Departments are testing inside/outside of buildings. JASCO will keep track of the location of testing, the RSSI, the tower, and whether they are inside a building or outside. We have the radios until Wednesday January 12th,2022.
Building Maintenance/Expansion/Parking Lot Update
Executive Director Ford advised the Board that Anderson Engineering gave her a quote for $2,500.00 to help with the RFP. The Board advised for April to check the original contract and make sure that the contract didn’t include the funds for assisting with the RFP.
Director Francis motioned to approve the payment to Anderson Engineering for $2,500.00 to assist with the RFP for the parking lot. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
CPE/9-1-1 Phone System Replacement
Executive Director Ford advised that our new phone system went live on December 15th,2021. So far it seems like we were not set up like we were supposed to be. We were supposed to be set up as one PSAP for sharing information and so we can send messages to Joplin and share data easily. April advised that she has a call set up to discuss why they did this and expects a clear understanding and agreement on both Joplin and JASCO’s sides with Intrado on why they changed things without the approval of Joplin and JASCO.
Amendment to the Virtual Consolidation Agreement with Joplin
Executive Director Ford advised the Board we have not heard anything at this time. April advised that has far as she knows it is not going to Joplin City Council yet.
April discussed the amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement and the fact that it had not been signed yet. The Board discussed that we need to contact Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards and see what the status is for this Agreement. Director Francis advised April to put everything in writing with the City Manager. April advised the Board that she will send an email to the City Manager.
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. Kima Burnett and Brandon McClintock are having to work shifts in the comm room currently to help. The Board agreed to keep this temporary policy in place for this month. The Board advised that they would either approve or deny the compensation on a month-to-month basis.
Director Stanley to approve and continue the Overtime Compensation policy. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Staffing and Recruitment
Director Dagnan advised April that he will let her come to classes and try to recruit at the College. Director Dagnan also stated we might let an intern come in and then see how they do and hire them.
Bond Amount Change
ED Ford advised the Board that our Bond amount Southwest Agency has increased from $1,986.00 to $2,551.00 for a three-year term.
Policy Review – Training Coordinator Job Description
ED Ford advised the Board that she will need to modify the Training Coordinator and the Quality Assurance job description. She will be splitting the two positions. She will modify the job description and the job duties on both policies.
Executive Director Agreement
ED Ford advised the Board there is a closed session for her annual evaluation. The Board agreed that previous Board Chairman Fries could attend the closed portion of the meeting to discuss the evaluation of Director Ford.
At 1:03 p.m. Executive Director Ford and Office Support Clerk Amber Madison stepped out of the meeting.
Jasper County Emergency Services Board announced to close for personnel records and evaluations pursuant to Mo. Statute Section 610.021 (3).
1:03 p.m. Director Harrison motioned to go into closed session. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Vote: Wilson – In Favor
Francis – In Favor
Harrison – In Favor
Dagnan – In Favor
Stanley – In Favor
1:11 p.m. Director Francis motioned to come out of closed session. Director Harrison seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
Vote: Wilson – In Favor
Francis – In Favor
Harrison – In Favor
Dagnan – In Favor
Stanley – In Favor
Executive Director Ford and Office Support Clerk Amber Madison stepped back into the meeting.
Director Harrison motioned to approve the renewal of April Fords contract and approved her 4.5% raise for the year of 2022. Director Stanley seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
1:17p.m. Director Stanley motioned to adjourn. Director Dagnan seconded the motion. Vote: 5-0. The motion was adopted.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 24th, 2022, at 12:30 p.m.
On the________ day of ________________2022
I, Vice Chairman Wilson ___________________________certify these Jasper County Emergency Services Board Meeting Minutes for___________________________. They have been reviewed and are accurate.
On the ________day of_________________2022
I, Dan Stanley, Director __________________________ attest the Jasper County Emergency Services Board Meeting Minutes for ___________________________. They have been reviewed and are accurate.
