HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Management & Communications 07-07-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
ST. CROIX COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
July 7, 2008 -9:00 a.m.
A' O TE Committee will meet at HUDSON CITY HALL
Hudson, WI 54016
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
1. Emergency Service Agency Representative's Concerns and Issues
A. Sheriffs Dept.
B. Municipal Law Enforcement
C. Fire Services
D. EMS Services
E. Public Health
2. River Falls Dispatching Proposal
3. Director's Report — Emergency Management
A. MOU with Polk County
4. Director's Report — Emergency Communications
5. Short and Long Term Goals /2009 Budget Planning
6. Committee Chairman's Comments
ADJOURN
(Items may be taken in different order)
** Additions /Changes /Corrections
Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office
by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting.
6/30/2008 1:11 PM
MINUTES — OFFICIAL
Emergency Management and Communications Committee
JULY 7, 2008
PRESENT: John Borup, Julie Speer, Roger Rebholz, Dave Ostness, John Mortensen - County Board;
Casey Swetlik - Emergency Communications; Jack Colvard — Emergency Management; John Shilts, Jeff
Klatt — SCC Sheriff's Dept.; Chuck Whiting — Administrative Coordinator; Carlene Jensen — Salvation
Army; Marty Jensen — Hudson PD; Jim Frye (9:30 a.m.) — Hudson Fire Dept./Rep.; Roger LeQue — River
Falls PD; Jeff Rixmann — River Falls EMS; Bob Schwalen — River Falls Fire Dept.; Craig Nelson — EMS
Rep.; Dean Knudson — Hudson Mayor.
Chair Borup called the meeting to order at 9:003 a.m.
The 6 -13 -2008 Minutes were approved on a Mortensen/Rebholz MOTION.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: AUGUST 12, 2008 @9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: ST. CROIX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, Community Room
EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE'S CONCERNS AND ISSUES
A. Sheriff's Dept. — Shilts reported that John McCain will be coming to Hudson.
B. Municipal Law Enforcement — Jensen noted a Thank You to Swetlik for the Comm. Van at an
accident incident.
C. Fire Services —Nothing
D. EMS Services — Nothing
E. Public Health — Not in attendance — It was discussed that PH does not need to be invited to
Committee Meetings; they may provide a written report or appear when there is an item of
significance.
RIVER FALLS DISPATCHING PROPOSAL
This subject is back on the table for discussion; Ostness feels there are potential safety issues with the
current dispatching. There is a population growth northward from the City of River Falls into St. Croix
County. LeQue would like to explore this proposal; he mentioned that his department is on the same
records management and CAD system as St. Croix County and that could result as a benefit for his
department. There was a question related to 911 service fees and where that money ends up. Swetlik
explained service fees for landline 911 are collected by the phone companies who claim that they are used
to cover their costs related to equipment and data -base management. Wireless 911 fees are currently
collected by the Public Service Commission who in turn allocates cost reimbursement back to the
counties as well as the wireless phone companies. The wireless reimbursement process is set to expire in
November of 2008 however and following that, the County will not see any reimbursement. Swetlik
explained that if St. Croix County absorbed the dispatching responsibilities of the City of River Falls and
UWRF, the increased call volume would result in his recommendation to expand the 911 department.
Rixmann explained that 65 -70% of EMS calls for service are in St. Croix County; he also gave a handout
which summarized the call volume of his department. Schwalen gave a handout showing the Fire calls
volume; he also mentioned that within the portion of St. Croix County, there is Industrial growth. Swetlik
also informed that the Communications Dept. currently realizes an average of 18% growth in calls for
service yearly. This alone will prompt a discussion related to the physical expansion of the department in
the near future. It was decided to have a preliminary /informal meeting with all interested parties; Swetlik
will arrange. This Item will be on the August 12 Agenda.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT — EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Swetlik reported that the following service /maintenance projects will expire which would impact his
budget significantly: EC 911 Phone System, Phone Services, Dispatch Radio Consoles, and Voice
Recorder. These service /maintenance agreements aid response problems to be resolved within hours and
not days.
'The National Weather Service has a new Announcement which is called a "Significant Weather Alert ".
Swetlik gave a handout for informational purposes and will place this on the agenda for next month's
meeting in hopes of obtaining a recommendation on how his department should react to this type of
announcement.
Swetlik reported that the Public Service Commission (PSC) has a surplus of money related to the
collection of fees for wireless 911. Their previous strategy for grant reimbursement involved a line item
approach from the original grant application. If a County spent too much from that line item (as they
implemented wireless 911), they would not qualify for additional reimbursement. Now the PSC will be
taking an overall grant application approach and reimburse up to the total amount awarded. This change
should result in an additional $13- $15,000 in grant reimbursement for the County. The official
announcement is expected from the PSC in August with the money expected by November of this year.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT — EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Colvard informed the Committee that Polk County approved the MOU for County Emergency Mgmt.
Assistance. This same MOU will be sent to Pierce, Barron, and Dunn Counties for their review and
possible acceptance.
Colvard reported that he has received increased EMPG and EPCRA allotments.
Colvard asked that the Salvation Army representative identify their resources as EM would use them as a
resource in the event of a major incident. Red Cross is the lead volunteer service in the County.
SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS
Borup noted the Importance of thinking through the RF Dispatching situation.
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Recording Secretary, Pam Engen
Emergency Mgmt. Administrative Secretary