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Department needs. The procedures are channels that everyone needs to follow. The feeling of the <br />fire fighters was that everyone would be at the City Council meeting and that they felt they could <br />get the straight issue - at one point it seemed to be the money and at another point it seemed to be <br />the liability issue. The story kept changing. Mr. Cich stated again that it was not the proper way to <br />handle the situation. The fire fighters proceeded to point out the importance again of this tool to the <br />Fire Board. They feel the extracation tool is an absolute necessity. In all emergencies, the fire <br />department reigns command and the fire department is the only one with extracation equipment. <br />Mr. Tim Noran, Medical Specialist with Health One was present and stated that they have no <br />rescue equipment with them when they are called to the scene of an accident. They count on the <br />fire department to have the rescue equipment as Health One is trained in medical alone. The <br />extracation tool should be looked at as part of the equipment the fire fighters need to perform their <br />job - it should not be looked at as a just a rescue tool. When the tool is purchased, the training <br />comes free. If it is purchased now, the fire fighters would have ten months to train on it so there <br />would be no need to use it under pressure. Mr. Hartley asked their definition of rescue - would it <br />involve medical as well? (Medical training had been discussed at a previous Board meeting and it <br />was voted that that would be a possibility for the future, but not in the next year or so). The fire <br />fighters and Chief Hoeke assured Mr. Hartley there would be no medical training involved with the <br />extracation tool. Someone is trapped - you use the tool to get them out. As far as liability concerns - <br />if the training procedure is followed and someone still loses a limb, or their life, etc. - as long as <br />the proper procedure was used, the City is not liable. There will be documented training. Mr. <br />Cich again reminded the fire fighters of the proper channels to go through for their needs. The fire <br />fighters admitted they may have gone about it the wrong way and apologized for it, however, the <br />need is still there and they requested the Fire Board approve them getting it through the funding <br />from an outside source (e.g., Lions Club, etc.). Mr. Cich then stated he was not against the Fire <br />Department getting this tool and if they could get the funding to "go for it" and get the training <br />taken care of. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Hartley and seconded by Mr. Bawden to okay getting the extracation tool, and the <br />training, however, no rescue business until the proper training has taken place. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairman Pearson, Board Members Hartley, Bawden, Cich, <br />LaTour, Spence, and Wilson. Voting No: None. Absent: None. <br /> <br />Case #3: <br /> <br />Request Modification of Fire Department Organization, Adding of a <br />Day Captain and Two Lieutenants <br /> <br />This Case was tabled in November due to no position analysis being available. Chief Hoeke and <br />Personnel Coordinator, Kay McAloney put together the analysis with information they received <br />from Ham Lake, Andover, etc. Chief Hoeke stated there are five to eight people who train on <br />Tuesdays and that creates a need for additional supervisors. Chief Hoeke reiterated what the duties <br />are and that it would be by popularity vote that would determine who the Captain and Lieutenants <br />would be. The Captain would report to the Fire Chief and the Lieutenants would report to the <br />Captain. A Lieutenant is not needed for the day shift. Mr. Cich inquired about what had been <br />done for training for the leadership. Chief Hoeke informed him there are five men at this time <br />trained in incident command. Mr. Hartley commented that we want to have good leadership, <br />therefore, good training is essential. He asked how we would know if they had leadership <br />knowledge if appointed by popular vote. Chief Hoeke stated that the election of officers in the <br />Ham Lake Fire Department was done by popular vote and the feeling is that if there is no <br />leadership background, they probably wouldn't get nominated. All the neighboring fire <br />departments do it this way. It is up to the Fire Chief and assistant chiefs to make sure the <br />leadership training is done. Mr. Cich sated that the officers should be trained above the other fire <br /> <br />Fire Board/February 14, 1990 <br /> Page 4 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />