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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-28 Council Minutes0 KNEEHILL COUNTY FIRE COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 28, 2000 Kneehill County Offices, Three Hills Alberta The Kneehill County Fire Committee met on Tuesday, August 29, 2000 at the Kneehill County office, Three Hills, Alberta, commencing at 7 30 A.M Present were Kneehill County Fire and Capital Committee members Otto Hoff, James Hanger, Marjorie Vetter and Lonnie McCook Kneehill County Regional Fire /Disaster Coordinator Randy Tiller Trochu Fire Committee Lawrence Hogg, Roy Enzie and Kevin Hoppins Recording Secretary Jennifer Deak Mr Hoff called the meeting to order and advised all present Mr Hanger would be chairing the meeting Mr Hanger began by recapping the discussions held with the same parties at the April 26, 2000 meeting, noting at that time the Kneehill County Fire and Capital Committee had advised the Trochu Fire Committee members of the following • the County had purchased, from Alberta Infrastructure, the Trochu Maintenance Yard for the Trochu fire department • acknowledged the condition of the building and the need for some cosmetics, such as painting Noted the County was willing to put money into this along with the firemen volunteering to assist with painting, etc • noted at this time the County not willing to neither add onto the building nor upgrade the floor Mr Hanger requested confirmation from the Trochu Fire Committee as to the above understanding of the April 26/00 meeting There was consensus Mr Hanger noted the only thing that has changed is that the County would now be doing the upgrading (painting etc.) Mr Hoppins noted the firemen volunteered their time for fire services, not to rebuild an old building, the firemen were not involved in the process (building acquisition) but rather the "law" was laid down to them by the County the people who have the need should be involved and this was not done Mr Hanger discussed the original committee comprising of Trochu town Councillors, Trochu fire representatives and Kneehill County Councillors, noting Kneehill County received limited information from this committee Council was concerned when they saw the elegance of the blueprints and felt they had to be fiscally responsible to the ratepayers of the County The County was made aware of the availability of the Trochu facility in February 2000 and considered it good business to purchase this facility with the intention, over time, to address the repairs and maintenance Mr Hoppins noted this facility cost less to purchase than the original new facility and therefore there should be money in the budget to address the building to make it meet the fire department's needs Mr Hanger noted Council considered the building purchase a good business move and felt the building, with a little addressing, would be adequate, Council was trying to be fiscally responsible, Council has not said it would not spend money to address repairs and maintenance items but Council has said it would not be adding on to the building at this time Mr Hanger clarified the County's Fire and Capital Committee s recommendations go to council for approval Mr Hogg noted he had been on site at this facility twice, once with Mr Tiller and once prior to that Mr Hanger noted the comments made to Mr Tiller by the fire department went against the earlier discussion with the Trochu fire committee for example the addition to the facility Mr Hogg inquired where in the facility could the firemen hold a meeting? Mr Hanger responded in the fourth bay The Trochu committee noted the firemen wanted a commitment they want a meeting room, want to be involved in the design and want timelines set. Mr Hoppins noted when the Trochu fire committee met with Kneehill Fire and Capital Committee in April the firemen had not yet seen the facility Mr Hanger inquired what was not adequate about the facility Mr Hoppins noted there was no place for a meeting room, no laundry facilities, the water supply and communication system was not adequate Mr Hogg noted, with the exception of complete housing, the firemen have everything at the old building Mr Enzie noted if only half the things were going to be done to the new facility when would the other half get done will it ever be finished the addition and the meeting room? Mr Hanger reiterated the addition would not be done this year and the floor was useable until such time as it could be addressed Mr Enzie noted the firemen wanted something they could be proud of Mr Hanger noted a decision had been made to purchase the building Council did this in good faith and believing it was adequate and with needs addressed It was noted the building was not a "dive " It was also Jd /fire /firecomm20000829 C KNEEHILL COUNTY FIRE COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 28, 2000 Kneehill County Offices, Three Hills Alberta noted there were shingles, missing from the roof Mr Hogg noted the building was beginning to rust and if this was addressed it would make sense to do the addition at the same time Mr Hanger again clarified Council s position that being the roof would be addressed, the cement floor and addition would not be addressed at this time, the (man) doors would be addressed and the water line Mr Hanger requested Mr McCook to clarify the fire agreement with regard to the water truck. Mr McCook read clause 6 of the fire agreement which states the water truck is a 1972 Ford Model LN50 and was purchased by the County from the fire department for $100 with the County licensing and insuring this vehicle Upon written request the County will sell this unit back to the fire department for $100 with this re sale not to include any equipment, tank or pump installed that was paid for by either the town or the County Mr Hogg acknowledged he was aware of this agreement and further noted no equipment had been installed on this unit at County cost. Mr Hanger reiterated the County's position that a meeting room has to be the fourth bay of this facility for the present time Mr Hogg noted he would take this information back to the firemen and advise of their decision Mr Hanger requested Mr McCook read the July 20/00 report from Mr Tiller detailing his meeting with the Trochu firemen and walk through of the facility Mr McCook proceeded to read this report Mr Enzie clarified the old tanker would revert back to the Trochu firemen not the town Mr Hogg, noted with this clarification Mr Tiller's report was accurate Mr Enzie noted if one bay was converted into a meeting room, there would be three vehicles in the building A discussion followed on storing a tanker at, the current location but it was noted the current building is owned by the museum and they need this space Mr Hogg noted it would help if there was a time frame as to when the building would be ready Mr Hanger clarified next year meant 365 days from now there would be a full year before any additions would be considered Mr Hogg noted with clean ups and painting the facility would not be ready until October 2000 and that a water line would have to be piped in Mr Hogg recommended the future addition be taken into consideration in planning the water line pipe to this facility It was noted in the current fire building there is a 2" master line Mr Hoppms noted if the firemen did accept this building with the understanding there would be no addition this year, who would be deciding on the immediate repairs and maintenance and who could the firemen speak to about it? The Fire and Capital Committee noted the firemen would have to speak with Mr McCook Mr Hogg noted if the County was going to paint the facility why not insulate and tin it Mr Hogg also noted it would be preferred if all the repairs and maintenance were done prior to moving in as "kids get cranky" when someone touches their toys Mr Hanger noted he felt this was a good facility and Council is concerned when they see the hesitancy of the firemen Council was willing to look at a new building but then this facility became available Council could not discuss its negotiations to purchase this building as it could have jeopardized its offer Council had to keep its dealings confidential until arrangements were finalized Again Mr Hanger confirmed the (man) doors and shingles would be addressed, the addition and the floor would not be addressed until next year Mr Hogg again noted he would have to take this information back to the membership who would be meeting next Wednesday Mr Hogg then asked why the gate to the facility was locked Mr McCook advised when Mr Tiller's report was received noting the firemen were not interested in this building, the lock on the gate was changed Mr Hoppms inquired where the money to purchase this facility came from and it was noted from the County s transportation budget. Mr Hanger invited the firemen to inspect the county s shop facilities, noting the County focuses on everyone else and does not spend money on its own buildings the Trochu facility is better than the County's shop facility Mr Hogg asked whether the list, as reported in Mr Tiller's report was wrong Mr Hanger advised the list was not wrong but the Trochu firemen s position is wrong Mr Hanger noted Council recognized the building was not ideal but was willing to address the repairs and maintenance items at this time This should not stop the fire department from moving in. Mr Hoppins noted his concern that if the fire department moved in things would not be addressed Mr Hogg noted July 20/00 was the first time the firemen entered this building Mr Tiller made his report on this meeting, and now the Committee ( Trochu Fire) is again meeting with the County s Fire and Capital Committee Mr Hogg noted the firemen had never met with Trochu Jd/fire/firecomm20000829 2 KNEEHILL COUNTY FIRE COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 28, 2000 Kneehill County Offices Three Hills Alberta council Mr Hanger again noted the County would look after the repairs and maintenance and everything required to meet Council s needs Mr Hoppins again noted the fire department's needs needed • to be met Mr Enzie again asked whether the building would be painted or tinned Mr McCook advised he would be willing to meet with Messrs Hogg, Hoppins and Enzie to discuss these matters • Mr Hoppins noted the County actually saved money buying this facility compared to a new facility and said $20,000 00 for a tin roof was not an elaborate request when one considered the savings in purchasing this facility over a new building Mr Hogg again noted July 20/00 was the first time the firemen viewed the building and to day's meeting is within a month on this date Mr McCook noted the firemen s wants would be referred to the Fire and Capital Committee who in turn would assess these wants and make recommendations for Council approval Mr McCook would be the liaison person between the firemen and the County's Fire and Capital Committee A discussion followed on timelines and all agreed it was a slow process and that budgets came into play Mr Hoppins again noted that the firemen felt they had not been consulted on needs and decisions with regard to this facility It was noted the Trochu Fire Committee would have to meet with Mr McCook to further discuss these issues Mr McCook noted the County had hired a Fire/Disaster Coordinator to look after the County's interests The County was going to manage its own fire operations through Mr Tiller who in turn, would be looking at the County's needs and what the County was willing to commit for service The firemen were advised they should be dealing with Mr Tiller for fire issues and Mr McCook on other issues Mr Hogg noted the fire agreements between the County and the various fire departments were haphazard as they differed Mr McCook noted the County's direction was for Mr Tiller to assess the fire needs and level of service for the County and Council would set its direction and decisions for County fire services This had nothing to do with the urban fire services This was a new concept and there was bound to be bugs in the system The important thing was that there were two identities the towns and the County Mr Hogg requested and was provided with a copy of Mr Tiller's July 20/00 report. Mr Hanger then read the County's Policy 10 12 this being its point Services position A copy of this policy was also provided to Mr Hogg Mr Hanger concluded by noting the fire department and the County needed to work together on this issue and requested the firemen re discuss the county's position on the facility and advise in turn of their decision whether or not to accept this facility under the terms and conditions as discussed this morning Mr Hanger then noted Mr Hoppins was running a tape recording of the meeting Mr Hoppins acknowledged he had taped the meeting There being no further business the meeting adjourned time 8.45 A.M Recording Secretary Jd/fire/firecomm20000829