April 2008
With past financial issues finally being reconciled, I have been able to concentrate this week on the preparation of the fiscal year 08-09 budget. It is my intent to have a first draft budget to the Board by April 15, 2008 for their review and input. I would request that a budget workshop be scheduled for the week of April 20.
Employment agreements for the Districts All Risk Incident Management Team program have been developed and sent out to all program employees.
A proposed cooperative agreement between the USFS and Garden Valley FPD has been drafted and will be discussed next week with representatives from the El Dorado National Forest and USFS Region 5. All of the issues that were brought to our attention in the past few months have been addressed in the new document. It is my hope that negotiations go well and we are able to bring the agreement to the Board for approval at the May meeting.
The financial issues between the GVFPD All Risk Incident management Team program and the USFS has been resolved, with all employees receiving a payroll adjustment and all outstanding debts being paid. It should be noted that it took the CPA 52 billable hours to reconcile the books just for the All-Risk program. In addition, Chairman Bob Rogers and Board Member Jo Cleaver have spent over 600 "person" hours since February 1 working to help bring the administrative office and other GVFPD financial/business/legal matters into compliance. This has truly been a team effort and a hardship on both of them.
The Grand Jury report on past GVFPD business practices is expected shortly.
The change in the career employee shift schedule to the 48 hour on, 96 hour off has been completed with little or no problems. Captain Burch is transitioning well into his new position as A shift Captain along with the Charles Frost as the new Engineer on C shift.
Progress is being made on the GVFPD Brush truck project. The on duty staff is building a new type 6 4X4 engine utilizing the chassis from the old Squad 51. The District has received a Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant from Cal-Fire in the amount of $6500 to help offset the cost of the project.
We are currently in the process of designing and purchasing an "Extendo-bed" pull out organizer unit for Squad 51. This will enable us to quickly access the rescue and extrication tools that we received in January as a result of a grant. Funding for the extendo-bed comes from funds donated by the Divide Health Care Auxiliary's Xmas bazaar.
A general staff meeting was conducted by A/C Bement in my absence on April 1, 2008. I attended the march El Dorado Fire Chiefs meeting in Placerville. In attendance were R. Waters, J.Burch, P Bado, R.Buchmiller, C.Frost. Absent were: Dekker/ Szczepanik (Reno) and W Norman (school)
I attended 2 JPA meetings as a Board Director.
I attended the California Incident Command team's annual refresher and training in Reno, NV
I have been appointed to the California Interagency Incident Command Team 3 as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor Trainee.
I have attended department training and responded to emergency dispatches as needed.
Respectfully submitted,
William Dekker, Fire Chief
4/8/08
