HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/11/2025 FFTB Minutes
Foreign Fire Tax Board Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting
th
July 11, 2025
Call meeting to order at 0836.
Roll Call
Present: Kelly, Ekner, Chief Novak, Kowalczyk, Lt Bocox and Moran
Absent: Dolan
Officer’s Report:
Chairman’s Report: Nothing new to report
Treasurer’s Report: Balance of $516,056.17 as of 7/10/2025. $14K in interest earned to date and
$7,671 collected YTD. Also, want to discuss annual cable expenses. Cable is $17K/yearly for 4
stations for cable television. Due to expense growing over time and in excess of $10K, this
warrants larger discussion. Will be discussed next meeting to explore any alternatives. Request
for breakdown per station as well.
Secretary Report: Reading of meeting minutes from 5/30/2025. Motion to approve by Kelly.
Seconded by Lt Bocox. FFTB Vote: Kelly= Yes, Ekner= Yes, Chief Novak= Yes, Kowalczyk= Yes, Lt
Bocox= Yes and Moran= Yes. 6 Yay’s; 0 No’s. Motion approved.
Old Business:
Develop process for absentee general membership voting- Research and address at next
meeting. Need to research compliance with open meetings act to determine if Zoom or
FaceTime are appropriate tools for communication. What bylaws allow for absentee voting and
how to best not disrupt services for outlying stations. Chief Dolan absent. Tabling for next
meeting.
New Business:
Ekner Shoe Proposal- Request in amount not to exceed of $17,160. Program will run same as last
year. Discussion around working this into the clothing committee operating budget for FY ’26. FY
’26 budget talks under way now. Ekner amending proposal for approval for 2025 only. Will work
with clothing committee to move this into operating budget for FY ’26 and moving forward.
Motion to approve by Kelly. Seconded by Kowalczyk. FFTB Vote: Kelly= Yes, Ekner= Yes, Chief
Novak= Yes, Kowalczyk= Yes, Lt Bocox= Yes and Moran= Yes. 6 Yay’s; 0 No’s. Motion approved.
Will move on to general vote next meeting due to submittal greater than $10,000.
Schwegler Cars for Auto Extrication Proposal- Submittal in amount of $4,800 for 12 vehicles to
be used for auto extrication training. North Shore Towing is same company used last year for
same submittal. Very successful run with no issues last year. Training budget supplies budget is
not sufficient enough to pick up cost for this year. Will continue to work moving forward to try
and get this in operating budget. North Shore is most reliable. Reliable to get number of cars
needed with seamless operation with pick up and drop off in timely manner. This allows no
disruption to operations and scheduling. Other vendors are unreliable. Motion to approve by
Novak. Seconded by Kelly. FFTB Vote: Kelly= Yes, Ekner= Yes, Chief Novak= Yes, Kowalczyk= Yes,
Lt Bocox= Yes and Moran= Yes. 6 Yay’s; 0 No’s. Motion approved.
Fiedler Helmet Proposal- Submittal in amount of $792.50. This is the portion for FFTB to cover as
other expense is covered by turnout gear budget. This is an extension of previous proposal.
There was a member who qualified who did not get helmet on first run due to anticipation of
upcoming promotion. Member did not want to get helmet and then a short time later need a
new helmet due to promotion. This is to cover the cost of a LT helmet. The original proposal was
submitted for approval moving forward. So as members reach the 15 year mark they will receive
leather helmet. It was addressed that if the annual cost for the number of members that become
eligible for helmets exceeds $10K then it will have to be submitted to the FFTB due to cost in
excess of $10K. If cost is less than $10K then it will follow original submittal, be included as part
of annual expenses and does not need a submittal. Motion to approve by Novak. Seconded by
Kelly. FFTB Vote: Kelly= Yes, Ekner= Yes, Chief Novak= Yes, Kowalczyk= Yes, Lt Bocox= Yes and
Moran= Yes. 6 Yay’s; 0 No’s. Motion approved.
Losoff Sauna Proposal- Continuation from proposal that was tabled last meeting. 3 vendor bids
obtained. Submittal for sauna not to exceed $9,500 from My Sauna World. This is same heater as
previously proposed with different shell. Recommended is lowest vendor price. Questions from
first meeting addressed and answered: 1) Electrical requirements- work with Public Works on
this; Spoke with Public Works and 208V is preferred. Install will be handled by outside
contractor. 2) Talk to AC Loomis about fire safety with sauna and any concerns; Verbal
conversation with FPB and no issues or concerns with sauna. 3) Discuss with Safety Committee;
Safety committee has, but has not met to discuss yet. 4) Response impact. Create Policy with use
of sauna and cold plunge simultaneously. Policy created. Final approval for policy needs to go
through chain of command. Lead time for sauna is 6-8 weeks. Sauna will be built in house by
members. Chief Dolan is not present to comment so FFTB requesting proposal to be tabled for
next meeting Chief Dolan is present. Losoff agreeable to table proposal for next meeting.
Citizens to be heard:
None
Motion made to adjourn made by Kelly, seconded by Ekner. FFTB Vote: Kelly= Yes, Ekner= Yes,
Chief Novak= Yes, Kowalczyk= Yes, Lt Bocox= Yes and Moran= Yes. 6 Yay’s; 0 No’s. Motion
approved.
Meeting adjourned at 10:21A.