Meeting Minutes

 

MARCH 4,, 2009

 

Present: Tony Rohrwasser; Bill McCabe,NBFD; Barry Coleman, LDS Church;  Pat Warkentin, BFFD; Ken English, MSFD; Jock Johnson, PVFD; Chet Savage, PVFD; Chris Lund, IDL; Brad Lowther, HMVFD ;Emma Fields, Red Cross; Regina Sherman, Boundary Ambulance; Jay Baker, Idaho BHS; Wesley Portrey, SBFD; Dave Lux and Dan Myers, USFS; Linda McFadden, USFS; Bruce Whittaker and Tish Lagerwey, CBPO; Tina Wilson, Boundary Community Hospital; Ron Smith, County Commissioner; George Shutes, ITD.

 

 

Next meeting:   April 8, 2009 0800, Bonners Ferry Visitors Center Meeting Room

 

 

I.            Announcements: Tony Rohrwasser brought the meeting to order at 0800.

 

  1. A video presentation on Wildland fires preparedness. The goal is to have a group within the county to speak on prevention to homeowners. After the video Tony asked for input and information from anyone that would like to help. Ron Smith suggested that there is grant money for educating homeowners and it would be beneficial to contact the contractors that the county has. Emma Fields also suggested the Extension Office has a Master Gardeners program and the volunteers do the actual work for credit for that program. IDL also has a simulator program to use for education.

 

  1. Emma Fields, Red Cross volunteer with an update: 13 new volunteers are ready for training beginning March 10th. Also will be updating the trailer that is located at the Sheriff’s office.  Phone #’s for Jody: 208-573-1980 and Jennifer: 1-800-853-2570/ext. 810 or cell: 208-946-0527 for information or assistance.

 

  1. Bruce Whittaker and Tish Lagerwey from customs and Border Protection: gave a hand out on a Functional Exercise to be held June 23, 2009, at Porthill.  It will be held prior to the Port opening. Any input, comments or other opinions please contact Bruce at his e-mail bruce.whittaker@dhs.gov. Also, Tish will hold a table-top in May and go over things in more detail.  Bruce will be at the LEPC meetings and continue to up date us on the progress of the exercise. Cynthia Taggert questioned Tish on the need for a Public Information Officer.  They will discuss this further, at a later time.

 

  1. Darrell and Cynthia from Panhandle Health District: On May 14th the 5 Northern Counties Pandemic flue exercise will be held.  They are asking for two 30 minute conference calls with the county commissioners, 1 in the am, 1 in the pm. To discuss the implications of an influenza outbreak. Commissioner Smith agreed to the conference calls. Cynthia also added that there will be a Joint Information Center training on March 26th, the Coast Guard will be sponsoring this meeting at the Idaho Transportation Department in CDA. Cynthia is urging everyone to attend as it is very informative. Fore more information go to the Idaho Prepares web site.

 

  1. Tony Rohrwasser: Notes from Dave Kramer: March 23rd there will be a National Weather Spotter class at the Naples fire station training room from 6-8pm. Also, Dave is working on a rail car exercise May. That will also be held in Naples.

 

  1. Jay Baker: Spoke about the 34 million dollars of discretionary money from the stimulus package. Boundary County was able submit 4 projects.

 

  1. Barry Coleman: Updated everyone on the Re-source typing he has been working so diligently on. He still needs several of the fire departments and law enforcement to submit there information. Jay Baker added that it is necessary to gather this information so that thru out the state the information is consistent and in a common language. “It’s a big job” Jay said.

 

  1. Brad Lowther asked if any of the stimulus money could be used for increased cell service north of Rock Creek. Jay says he does not know, but possibly some of the money could be used.

 

  1. The next LEPC meeting will be the 2nd Wednesday of April as several people will be gone on Spring Break.

 

With no further business the Meeting adjourned at 0915

Minutes submitted by J. Jeske BFPD