Windham – Windham Joint District Fire Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting with one board member unavailable. The fire board approved the expenditures, the minutes, and the bank reconciliation before moving on to the Chief’s Report.
Chief Rich Gano reported that there were 318 calls to date (06/30/2020). There were 41 EMS calls and one fire call. Three of the EMS calls were auto accidents and there were 23 patient transports for the month of June. There were 23 calls to the village, 17 calls to the township and one on the turnpike.
A discussion was held about F-500 encapsulator agent. Gano presented prices on it and explained how it works. In a nut shell it is a noncancerous foam-like substance that expands the mitigation capabilities, and significantly reduces toxins in smoke, including cancer-causing toxins.
This agent is better than the foam currently used and will also help contain fires faster. Gano gave pallet prices and price per unit. He said he was trying to see if there were other interested parties in the region who might possibly buy a pallet and share cost with other departments, right now he has one other interested. It would drop the price per unit by $20. No decision was made on the issue.
Gano said he is still trying to get the Marks radio system ready to go. In the meantime, he has the other radios ready to go. He reported that the reboxing of the ambulance is still on the schedule for November but they are hoping to be moved up on the list. Ambulance 2811 had the Air conditioning repaired and also had a flat tire. Gano will get a new tire for it. The grass fighter’s battery keeps dying even after a new battery was purchased, so it’s at Kepich being serviced. The district received $1200 for an EMS grant. The State Farm Grant opens on July 15, 2020. Gano said he has everything ready for it.
Discussions were held on how long one needs to work for the district before the board pays for additional schooling, and how to spend the grant money.
The Board went into executive session to discuss possible employment. Mike Iwanyckyj, a former retired chief and fire fighter had requested the executive session.
Following the executive session, the board returned from session and moved on to New Business. The chief stated that the station roof was leaking and would need to be repaired. He called someone to look at it and they have yet to show, so he will move on to someone else. Lastly, they discussed splitting the sleeping quarters into two separate rooms since there are males and females on the department, the board said they’d need estimates for it but thought it was a good idea.
The board adjourned to another executive session. They returned with no further business to discuss so they adjourned the regular meeting.
