City Hall Conference Room

Board Members Present: Bobby Brown, Roy Campbell,

Ricky Smith, Earl Williams

Board Member Absent: Ervin Brock

Executive Director: Jack Smith

Staff: Deputy Chief Roberts, Capt. Tim Coram, Capt. Derrick Ogletree, Capt. Debbie

Carver, Chris Jones, Julie Stripling, Secretary,

Keith Allen, Board Attorney

News Media: Mark Brannan, WPAX , Patti Dozier, Times-Enterprise

Guests: Commissioners Mary Jo Beverly and Elaine Mays,

Clay Campbell, Archbold Health Services

Chairman Ricky Smith called the meeting to order and Vice Chairman Earl Williams opened with prayer.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Roy Campbell made a motion to approve the minutes from the 10/25/01 Board meeting. Bobby Brown seconded the motion. With all in favor, the motion carried.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Jack Smith presented the proposed operating budget totaling $5,166,812.00 for 2002. Estimated revenues are at $5,178,816.36 resulting from property/vehicle taxes and other fees and charges. Included in the proposed budget is a salary increase for employees with the last increase being 14 months ago. Mr. Smith urged the Board members to review the Budget and a meeting was set for Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at 2:00PM to have further discussion and answer any questions.

The Fire Department is in good standing with equipment. Mr. Smith urged the Board to consider additional personnel that will be necessary to man the new Fire Stations in the outlying county areas. This will go a long way toward getting the ISO ratings lowered countywide, which will directly affect property owners and result in a decrease in insurance premiums for homeowners. It is foreseeable that in the future a county wide rating of 6-10 is obtainable.

Executive Director Smith recommended that the EMS ambulances be put on a set rotation basis to better equip the Ambulance Service.

At a later date a proposal will be made to the Board concerning Phase I and Phase II wireless for E911. A charge of up to $1.00 per phone can be assessed for wireless customers and can be collected for 18 months in advance of the actual service being in place. Director Smith will be obtaining contractual facts to present.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

EMS

Captain Tim Coram reported the status of the EMS fleet and said that First Vehicle Service has recommended that M-3 and M-5 be taken out of service. M-3 is a 95 model with 140,000miles and has been in for repair 19 times this year. M-5 is a 97 model with 113,000 miles and has been in the repair shop 17 times this year. In addition to these, unit M-6 has been in for repairs 20 times this year and has been out of service in the shop since November 21.

Captain Debbie Carver presented ideas and avenues being currently pursued for increased revenue at EMS. By April 2002 the new Medicare fee schedule will be in place and benefit us. CPAP has been instituted into the specialty care fee schedule. Some of the other fees implemented to increase revenue are raised base transport and mileage, Signal 43, assessment and stand-by fees. These will be discussed in more detail at next weeks meeting.

Captain Derrick Ogletree reported 365 calls for 11/01-11/27/01 with a year to date total of 4516. It is expected that EMS will have a total of at least 5,000 calls by 12/31/01. Capt. Ogletree addressed overtime and explained that whenever a Paramedic is in school they are paid while in school on duty plus additional personnel must be brought in to cover the shift. Other factors involved in overtime have been additional staffing for fire training for EMS personnel, out of town transports, stand-bys and non-transport events, and sick leave.

VOLUNTEER FIRE

Volunteer fire Liaison Chris Jones reported that the new pagers are working well. Inventory has been an ongoing project and a list for all Volunteer stations will be completed by mid December. The new Firehouse software has been an asset.

Location and documentation of dry hydrants is concluded. Applications are currently being taken and processed for the New Hope station with training to begin in January. Two trucks that have been taken out of service will be sold at the County auction this year.

FIRE

Deputy Chief Ronald Roberts reported that the Fire Department is doing well and that they are responsible for saving lives and many dollars in property. Additional personnel are needed in order to meet minimum NFPA standards. With the new stations in the county in the works, time is of the essence, as adequate training must be completed.

With no further business, Roy Campbell made a motion to adjourn. Earl Williams seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned.