2008-03-12 Fire Commission Minutes

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Alternative Funding and Grants FEMA FY 2007 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant: Received notification of award to purchase and install video teleconferencing equipment at various stations. State Department of Transportation Safe Highways Grant: Once the grant period opens, the department will submit grant application to purchase OSHA traffic safety vests for both paid and volunteer staff. Capital Improvement Projects Makalei Fire Station: On Monday, March 10, 2008, the Mayor met with the representative of the landowner to facilitate the acquisition of the land by the County. Close to finalizing the design. Anticipating it will go out for construction contract bid by summer and ground breaking before the end of the year. The commission was offered the opportunity to review the schematics and plans. Pahoa Fire Station: Met with HELCO, State Department of Transportation, and Department of Public Works’ Engineering Division in order to expedite and facilitate a smoother development of the off-site improvements. The Department of Public Works’ Engineer advised the Fire Department that the State’s DOT and HELCO are communicating and he is optimistic that the process of relocating the utility poles off the easement, which is needed to create the station’s driveway, is being resolved. The Fire Commission and the community will be kept informed of the status. Public comment survey was distributed to the community. Fire Administration and Support Facility: Moving to the design phase. Central Fire Station: No new update. Central Fire Station Retrofit Project: No new update. Captain Cook Fire Station: As reported last month, a decision was made not to build the extension to the station because it would be more problematic to force the additional apparatus bay onto the station. However, the design will be kept, in the event that the State complex is decommissioned or renovated in the future. Once that occurs, the Fire Department will reconsider the extension. The Fire Department will proceed with the ADA improvements and Hazardous Material Abatement project. The personnel identified a building for their temporary relocation. The building is owned by the National Park Service in Honaunau, which is offering it to the Fire Department free of charge. The building remains in the district and is approximately 6.1 mile south of the existing Fire Station. The Fire Department would like to inform the National Park Service when they would be able to relocate. However, the date cannot be determined until after the construction contract goes out for bid. Keaau Fire Station: No new update. Honokaa Fire Station: No new update. Promotions and Hiring Active recruits include: 3