Board Meeting
The board met prior to the quarterly meeting. The following persons
were present: Denise DeMars, Mike Urbanski, Charlie
O'Brien, Jeff Schadegg, John Piper, Jerry Streich, Tony Krall, Bob Dahm, Crawford Wiestling
Charlie O'Brien presented quarterly
transaction report. Motion by Urbanski, Seconded by Streich to approve the quarterly
transaction report as presented. Motion passed.
Chapter Member Crawford Wiestling asked to address the board regarding the possibility of providing
insurance coverage to members as part of the membership package. This was presented to the
International but has flounder with no action. There are ongoing discussions but no action
to date. Crawford requested that Board consider this at the Chapter level. The Board posed
a number of questions and agreed to discuss this at a later date.
Jeff Schadegg presented the Executive
Directors report. Motion by DeMars seconded by Tremain to accept the report of the
Executive Director. Motion passed
Charlie O’Brien presented the quarterly transaction report for
board approval. Motion by DeMars to approve the report as presented, seconded by Streich.
Motion passed.
Charlie O’Brien reported that the Chapter’s 2006 Taxes have
been filed.
Charlie O’Brien reported that the Chapter’s bank account has
been updated removing Past President Novak as a signatory and adding incoming President
John Piper.
Mike Tremain presented a letter from the MN 100 Club requesting we
sponsor a hole at their Golf Tournament fundraiser. The MN 100 Club provides
instant relief / aid to surviving families of Minnesota law enforcement and fire personnel
who are killed in the line of duty. Motion be DeMars, seconded by O’Brien to sponsor a hole at the
$200 donation level. Motion passed.
Jerry Streich presented a request
from the Arson Awareness Committee for money to purchase shirts for those working the
Governor’s Fire Prevention Day at the Fair. Volunteers will be giving Fairgoers a
survey asking the questions about their perceptions about arson. The shirts would serve to
identify survey givers. Motion by Urbanski, seconded by DeMars to supply a polo/golf type
shirt cost to be determined at a later date. Motion passed with Streich abstaining.
Denise DeMars made a motion to approve $2000 for the purchase of the
arson reward pencils and bookmarks given away at the Fair, seconded by Schadegg. Motion
passed with Streich abstaining.
Mike Urbanski made a motion to purchase new staff shirts for 2008
Conference Committee. Cost to be determined at a later date. Motion passed with Streich
abstaining.
Mike Urbanski presented the Scholarship Committee recommendation for
2007 scholarship awards. The committee received four applications and selected Joseph
Clemence and Cameron Novak as the recipients of the two $500 scholarships. Motion by
DeMars, Seconded by O’Brien to approve the scholarships as presented by the
Committee. Motion passed.
1st VP Denise DeMars explained that she asked Executive
Director Schadegg if our commercial liability insurance covered the Chapter,
Officers and Board Members should we be sued as happened recently to FIAM. Schadegg checked with our carrier and found we were
not. It was recommended by the International that we obtain this type of coverage.
Schadegg obtained a quote for Officer’s and Director’s Insurance in the amount
of $838.00 plus $75.00 policy fee. An e-mail
motion was presented to the Board and the direction received was to hold the motion for
action at the Board meeting. Motion by DeMars, seconded by
Schadegg to purchase the Director’s and Officer’s policy. Discussion followed. Motion passed. Schadegg to follow-up and sign
application.
Charlie O’Brien presented a request from John Piper to pay his
hotel fees incurred while he was assisting at the recent Burn to Learn Program in Fergus Falls. Motion by O’Brien,
seconded by DeMars to reimburse Piper in the amount of $123.72. Motion passed with Piper
abstaining.
Motion by DeMars seconded by O’Brien to approve administrative
services agreement with Jeff Schadegg for June 13, 2007 – June 13, 2008. Motion passed with Schadegg out of the room.
Chapter Meeting
Secretary’s Report
Motion by Garfin, seconded by Arnulund to approve Minutes of March 28, 2007 as published in the
newsletter. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Motion by
Howe, seconded by Faust, to
approve the Treasurers report as published in the newsletter. Motion passed.
Executive
Director’s Report
Membership
numbers:
Active
204
Associate 236
Life
17
Sustaining 4
Total
461
343 members have paid their 2007 dues leaving 101 who will be re-invoiced
shortly.
On March 8, 2007 an e-mail motion
was presented to the Board requesting that the Chapter pay the Past President’s
expenses to attend the International Conference including airfare, registration and meals.
The motion was made by Schadegg and seconded by Urbanski. Motion was approved with the
request that he pave the way for the new President and the continued success of our
Chapter.
Retired Burnsville Fire Investigator and ILC Investigator David
Crosbie passed away Friday May 18th . David has been a Chapter member since
June of 1996. Flowers were sent to the memorial service on behalf of the Chapter. The cost
was $119.28.
1st VP Denise DeMars asked if our commercial liability
insurance covered the Chapter, Officers and Board Members should we be sued as happened
recently to FIAM. In follow-up, I contacted
our insurance broker and the IAAI to find out if we were covered for this type of claim.
The answer was no, we do not have this type of coverage. In his response International
President Tom Fee recommended we purchase this type of coverage so I obtained a quote from
Darwin National Assurance through our broker James M. King & Associates, Inc.: Total premium is $838.00 plus $75.00 policy fee. This includes Directors & Officers Liability
with EPL (Employment Liability). The policy
was reviewed by our Legal Counsel Tony Krall and he recommends we purchase this policy. There was an e-mail motion by DeMars,
seconded by Schadegg to purchase the policy. Several Board members asked to hold the
motion for the Board meeting to be discussed in person. The motion was re-presented at the
Board meeting and passed after review and discussion..
2007
Conference: There are 28 registrations outstanding totaling $6080.00
2007 Hazmat /
OSHA refresher: There are three registrations outstanding totaling: $360.00 These will be
re-invoiced shortly.
Burn to Learn
Seminar: There were 54 registrations totaling $2560.00. We have 28 registrations
outstanding totaling $1070.00. These will be re-invoiced shortly.
The
administrative services agreement with the Executive Director expired June 5, 2007. A new agreement was approved by the Board.
State
Fire Marshal Report
Fire Marshal Rosendahl commented on the
success of the recent response to the Ham Lake Wildfire. He complimented and thanked all
that responded. He noted that there were many buildings saved by exterior fire sprinkler
systems and defensible space in voluntary compliance Fire Wise. State Fire Investigators
responded to the area and assisted in preparing MFRIS reports in addition to their
investigative duties.
The preliminary Fire in Minnesota Report
will be available on the web site soon. There have been 23 fire deaths to date this year
compared to 24 last year. Last year there were 46 total fire deaths.
Arson was the number two cause of
structure fires in Minnesota last year. Cooking was number one and Open flame was number
three.
There were over five thousand bills
introduced in the Legislature this year with one hundred a fifty that passed. There were
no fireworks bills this year. The Fire Resistive Cigarette Bill passed and will be effect
in eighteen months.
The legislative agenda for next year is
being formulated. If you have ideas contact your MNFAC representative Denise DeMars.
Arson
Reward Committee Report
Arson Reward Committee Chair Charlie
O’Brien reported that there was one reward paid out last quarter. We have signs
available. Contact Charlie charlie.obrien.bjt0@statefarm.com
Budget
And Finance Committee Report
Charlie O’Brien reported that the
Conference report is not complete but preliminary numbers show a profit.
Arson
Awareness Committee Report
Denise DeMars reported that the committee
has made application for a grant to conduct a social marketing campaign. The grant has
passed through peer review and it is in the hopper for possible approval. In the mean
time, the Chapter has committed funds to conduct a survey to find out what people think
about arson. This will be conducted at the Minnesota State Fair and hopefully on line. The
long term goal is to identify why the arson conviction rate is so low and use the data to
develop a solution.
Governor’s
Council on Fire Prevention and Control
Alternate MNIAAI Council Member Jeff
Schadegg reported that the 9th Annual Governor’s Fire Prevention Day at
the Fair will be held on Friday August 24, 2007. There will be an international fire
safety message this year with exhibits translated into different languages.
The Minnesota 100 Club’s annual golf
tournament will be held on Wednesday June 27, 2007. An e-mail has been sent out to MNIAAI
members to contact Mike Tremain if they are interested in attending. The Chapter will be
sponsoring a hole as in the past.
Schadegg asked again that he be replaced
as alternate representing the Chapter. He serves as the Member representing the Fire
Marshal’s Association of Minnesota and as Alternate for the Chapter. This sends the
message that both can be represented by one person jointly. This has never been the case
because we have always had someone from each organization present and he has not
represented both at once. To eliminate any possible confusion in the future a new
alternate must be appointed. President Piper asked if anyone was interested in the
appointment. Mike Urbanski agreed to fill the position. Piper then appointed Urbanski.
HazMat
/ OSHA Committee Report
No report.
Juvenile
Firesetter Commmittee Report
Committee
Chair Marnie Grondahl reported that the committee met last month and is working with the Conference
Committee to ad a Juvenile fire setter component to the 2008 Conference.
Legislative
Committee Report
Committee
Chair Denise DeMars reported that the Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Bill has
passed and will go into effect in eighteen months.
We never got a meeting with the Attorney
General’s office on the negligent fire inititive so it did not move forward this
session.
Membership
Committee Report
Committee Chair Denise DeMars presented
fourteen applications for membership. Motion by DeMars to accept, seconded by Miranda.
Motion by Bruder to have a secret ballot. Discussion followed. DeMars withdrew the
original motion and seconded Bruder’s motion. Motion for secret ballot passed.
When the results of the ballot were
counted the following persons were accepted for membership:
Lee Berglund, Excelsior Fire Department
Kurt Eskuchen, American Family
Terry Iverson, Isanti Fire Department
Shayne Jacobs, Crosby Fire Department
Kris Kaiser, Bloomington Fire Department
Clifford Larson, Isanti Fire Department
Kent Larson, Isanti Fire Department
Kathi Osmundson, SBM Fire Department
Rhonda Sandell, Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office
Scott St. Martin, St. Paul Fire Department
Jerry Tasa, T & E Engineering
Randy Vados, East Bethel Fire Department
Peter Walsh, Finland Fire Department
Motion by Swisher,
seconded by Lamotte to destroy ballots. Motion passed.
Merchandising Committee Report
Committee Chair Mike Urbanski reported
that we are closing out all existing merchandise. Streich design will be handling our
merchandise on an order by order basis from their website. We will provide a link fro our
web site as soon as things are set up.
Scholarship
Committee
Scholarship
Committee Chair Mike Urbanski reported that the committee
received four applications for 2007 Scholarships. They selected Joseph Clemence and
Cameron Novak as the recipients of the two $500 scholarships and the Board approved the
recommendation. Congratulations to Clemence and Novak.
Certification
Committee Report
No report
Fire
Service Certification Board
Jeff
Schadegg reported on behalf of Mike Tremain. The fire investigator certification through
the Certification Board is still a work in progress. They
are also working on a Fire Officer III and Fire
Inspector III certification.
At last meeting they asked Mike
Tremain to research if the practical portion of the test could be waived if the applicant
already had some type of practical test through the NFA or the on scene course offered
through the State Fire Marshal’s Division. Mike
checked with other MNIAAI members and looked at what other states do recommended to the
MFSCB the practical not be waived. If the
practical is waived it will be difficult to determine what practical from other
schools/courses should be accepted and which shouldn’t.
It also raises the question, if you’re going to waive a practical, why
not waive the written portion? Other states
don’t waive the practical.
In summary, still a lot of work to
be done on this, unknown when it will be approved.
Awards
Committee Report
No
report.
Training
and Education Committee Report
Committee Chair Don Howell reported that
we had a successful 2007 conference with 263 registrants. The next planning meeting will
be June 27. The committee has met with the Holiday Inn staff to discuss our issues, looked
at other location options and decided to return to the St. Cloud Holiday Inn for the nest
three years.
Jamie Novak thanked the Fergus Falls Fire
Department for their help in putting on the recent Learn to Burn Program.
Jamie Novak reported that they are working
with Brooklyn Center and Days Inn to do a series of burns on June 21 and 22, 2007. If you
can help call Jamie directly.
Ethics
Committee Report
No report
Private
Investigators Committee Report
No report
Newsletter
Editor’s Report
Editor
Jeff Schadegg reported that the number of bad e-mail addresses is rising again. Be sure to
let the Chapter know if your e-mail address changes.
By-Laws
Committee Report
No report.
Old
Business
Denise DeMars reminded everyone that there
was a previous motion approved to change the meeting time to 9:00 A.M. The change will be
made next meeting.
Denise DeMars reported that the Testifying
in Court Class has been rewritten again and we are looking to put the class on fall of
2007 in Albert Lee.
New
Business
No new business.
Adjournment
Motion by Miranda, seconded by Wolff to
adjourn. Motion passed.
