Western Lakes Fire District’s Fire Board or Commission

Western Lakes Fire Board Monthly Board Meeting November 4, 2024 Call to Order • George Morris called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Board members present were George Morris, Jeff Roemer, Mike Tompkins, Bill Riemenschneider, and Scott Carter. Kent Lorenz and Dan DeBehnke were excused. Proof of Notice • Chief Bowen announced that the notice was posted Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 3:51 p.m. in accordance with open meeting laws. Pledge of Allegiance • George Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment • George Morris opened the meeting up to public comment of which there was none. Consent Agenda • Items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered in one motion unless a Fire Board Member requests that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda o Minutes of September 23, 2024 regular Fire Board Meeting o Payment of bills in the amount of $1,012,674.18. • A motion was made by Mike Tompkins and seconded by Jeff Roemer to approve the Consent Agenda items including meeting minutes from September 23, 2024 Fire Board meeting and payment of bills in the amount of $1,012,674.18. Motion carried unanimously. Fire Chief’s Report • Chief Bowen updated the board on various operational and administrative accomplishments and items underway. District staff have been extremely busy the past month on a daily basis. In addition, October is National Fire Prevention Month, which is an extremely busy time of year for DC Adam May and Fire Inspector Steve Boldt. They organize several school visits with the daily crews participating in these education sessions. Chief Bowen commended the team for all of their efforts. Brining special attention to the recent part-time recruitment, which resulted in the District hiring 16 new team members, and the recent full-time process, which will result in several internal and external hires. In addition to the training bureau for the monthly training efforts and upcoming part-time academy to prepare our new hires to hit the workforce and fill vacancies currently on the schedule. Also, the crews that have been busy with calls occurring within the District and a surge in mutual aid/MABAS calls for service. Chief Officer Reports • George Morris asked the board if they had any questions for the Chief Officers on their reports or if any of the Chiefs had anything to add. Discussion/Action – Sale of Ambulance(s) • Chief Bowen reviewed with the board materials gathered by AC Schuetz and DC Igl regarding recent sales of used ambulances by WLFD and other agencies. This included evaluating the Wisconsin Surplus and dealership sales of similar ambulances. Finding an exact comparable is difficult due to the various ambulance types, ages, mileage, and overall condition. The District has two ambulances that have met or exceeded their service life and are currently being replaced. The Page 1 of 3  Village of Merton is interested in one of them to use as their secondary/reserve unit. This is a partnership between the Village of Merton and Western Lakes through the joint agreement to serve the Town of Merton. The District will retain 55% ownership through our cooperative agreement and the Village of Merton will buy 45% ownership. The other ambulance we could list on the Wisconsin Surplus or the Amherst Fire Department has expressed interest in purchasing the ambulance as they currently do not have a secondary/reserve ambulance. After evaluating various sales District administrative and finance staff have provided the board with comparables and recommended value of each of these rigs. • A motion was made by Jeff Roemer and seconded by Bill Riemenschneider to approve the sale price of the 2016 Braun Ambulance to the Village of Merton at a value of $30,000 with the Village’s portion of $13,500 due to the District by January 21, 2025; and the sale of the 2012 Lifeline Ambulance in the amount of $23,000 with payment due no later than November 30, 2024. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Action – Merton and Hartland FD Budget Contributions • Chief Bowen shared with the Fire Board the draft budget received from the Village of Merton and Hartland Fire Departments. The WLFD budget includes the portion of the Village of Merton and Hartland Budgets for services provided in the Town of Merton. The Chiefs of each Department are in attendance to answer any questions. Over the past two months Chief Bowen has worked with the other Chiefs and their Administrators on the budget requests and improved staffing in the Town of Merton as a result of these budgets. The additional data and information requested last month from the Fire Board was included in the packet and addressed the questions from the Board. • Jeff Roemer and Scott Carter asked about having the data with call information and response times included on a quarterly basis to ensure we are being stewarts of the Town of Merton’s funding and services. Jeff Roemer asked Chief Bowen if he supports and recommends approval of these budget, which Chief Bowen said he does. • A motion was made by Mike Tompkins and seconded by Jeff Roemer to approve the budget and District share for the Village of Hartland and to approve the budget and District share for the Village of Merton, including amendments to the capital cost of ambulance. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Action – Hartland Fire EMS Agreement • Chief Bowen reviewed with the Fire Board the draft agreement between the Village of Hartland and the Western Lakes Fire District regarding services to the southern portion of the Town of Merton. This agreement follows the same cooperative spirit as the agreement between WLFD and the Village of Merton. Due to the location of the WLFD, Hartland, and Merton Fire Stations and the Town of Merton's boundaries, this partnership is advantageous to ensure cost-effective and timely fire/EMS services in the Town of Merton. This agreement has been reviewed by the District’s legal team and was recently approved by the Village of Hartland Board. Over the past months, Chief Bowen has worked with the Village of Hartland Administrator, Fire Chief, and the Town of Merton on this agreement. • A motion was made by Jeff Roemer and seconded by Scott Carter to approve the Village of Hartland and Western Lakes Fire District Agreement for Fire and Emergency Medical Services to the Town of Merton, conditional to the Town of Merton’s final approval. Motion carried unaminously. Discussion/Action – Driveway Replacement (Okauchee Station) • Chief Bowen reviewed emergency of the driveway behind the Okauchee Station due to deterioration and safety concerns as we head into the winter months. Three bids were requested with two being submitted. Staff is recommending the low bid from Black Earth to complete this project in 2024 with a final coat being applied in spring of 2025. AC Schuetz and DC Igl have completed this assessment and recommend proceeding with the proposed bid. The cost of this Page 2 of 3  project will be funded from allocated funds in the 2024 CIP and 2025 CIP for facility capital projects. • The board asked if there are any concerns with the project being split between two years and if there is risk of damage to the new asphalt. DC Igl said this will not be a problem. • A motion was made by Jeff Roemer and seconded by Bill Reimenschneider to approve quotes #70798 & #70799 from Black Earth Pavement to complete driveway replacement behind the Okauchee Station in years 2024 and 2025 for a total project cost not to exceed $19,420.00. Payment of this project will be evenly split between the 2024 and 2025 budgets. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Action – 2027 Capital Improvement Project (Aerial Truck) • Chief Bowen reviewed with the Fire Board the 2025 Dodge County Joint Powers Agreement renewal in accordance with Wisconsin Statute 256.35(9) regarding 911 system in Dodge County. No changes to the current agreement have been made and this is an annual renewal with Dodge County for the service area in the Town of Ashippun. • A motion was made by Mike Tompkins and seconded by Jeff Roemer to approve Sourcewell contract #113021 for the purchase of Pierce HD 107’ Aerial Quint, including prepayment discount by April 1, 2027 in the amount of $1,709,607.00 plus 100% performance bond in the amount of $5,271.00. Motion carried unanimously. Future Agenda Items and Meetings • Monthly Fire Board Meeting – Monday, November 25, 4:00 pm at Station 1. Adjournment • At 6:13 p.m. a motion was made by Jeff Roemer and seconded by Bill Riemenschneider to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Page 3 of 3