Meeting Minutes

November 4, 2009

Present: Tony Rohrwasser, SBFD; David Kramer, Emergency Management; Barry Coleman, LDS Church; Jock Johnson, PVFD; Brad Lowther, HMVFD;De Anna Galbraith, Boundary Community Hospital; Rick Alonzo, BFPD; Kevin Greenleaf, Emma Fields and Leatha Lockhart, Red Cross; Pat Warkentin, BFFD; Ken English, MSVFD; Tish Lagerwey, CBP; Susan Bowman, Valence communications; Jay Baker, BHS; Ken Baker, Denise McGinnis, and Alan Hamilton BVA; George Shutes, Ron Carpenter, and David Bohrn, ITD.

Next meeting: December 2, 2009 0800, Bonners Ferry Visitors Center Meeting Room

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

Ken Baker, Denise McGinnis, and Alan Hamilton all from Boundary County Volunteer Ambulance were introduced, and Ken gave an overview of the services they provide to Boundary County. BVA began in 1965 and has always been an all volunteer service. Currently there are 33 volunteers that have the required training in the County, with 10 active members only 6 of those being drivers.  They are only reimbursed a small amount for gas and the majority of there income is from transfers. The Ambulance provides numerous services in addition to the medical calls they have, stand-bys for rodeos, ballgames and other events as well as on fires. They also have an extradition unit to help in the event one is needed. The short and long term goals of BVA are to update and purchase vehicles and to may be one day have paid EMT positions.

II.                     Round Table:

DeAnna Galbraith, BCCH: Update on H1N1, Panhandle Health District has issued a Press Release on the Vaccination of preschoolers; this notice will be sent out to LEPC members. For any other questions concerning the H1N1 virus or vaccination clinics please contact Tina Wilson at the Hospital, TinaW@bcch.org. DeAnna does feel we have not been hit too hard with the flu in Boundary County so far.

Tony Rohrwasser, SBFD: Has been continuing to work with Torr from Bonner County on the Communications needs. Hazmat Awareness and Operations will be held, this is a 28 hour combination course.

Ken English, MSVFD: A new roof has been put on the fire hall in Moyie Springs, it has been in disrepair for some time and he is pleased that is no longer leaking.

Pat Warkentin, BFFD: The City fire department has recently received a rating of 4, this is a very good rating for a volunteer fire dept.  This rating directly relates to the homeowners insurance premiums, for every point the rate is dropped, the insurance premiums are lowered approximately 10%.

Brad Lowther, HMVFD: Would like to meet with Bob Graham and David Kramer, as well as the homeowners in his area on Flood Mitigation.

Barry Coleman, LDS Church/translator: Work on the Resource List continues, Barry noticed some inconsistencies and will be contacting the agencies in question to update their lists. Also, Barry feels there are 3 wards that are a bit lax in their communications and hopes to get things straightened out there.

Dave Kramer, Boundary County Emergency Management:  Dave, Sue Welch and Jay Baker have been working on a table-top exercise, Hazmat spill, probably to be located in Bonners Ferry, and possibly a second closer to Bonner County as to include them.

Priest Lake Search and Rescue will be hosting a Winter Survival skills training January 30-31, 2010, at Priest Lake. Limited to 100 people, details will be sent to LEPC members by e-mail.

Jay Baker, BHS: Jay announced that Major General LaFrenz has retired due to health issues. His permanent replacement has not been announced.

On Nov. 10, 2009 there will be a mass casualty table top exercise at Schweitzer Mountain Resort from 1-5pm.  

Tish Lagerwey, CBP:  Customs and Border Protection must now report each Wed. on any H1N1 symptoms displayed by any officers or staff.

Emma Fields and Leatha Lockart, Red Cross:  Have inventoried the Red Cross trailer and updated the inventory.

The Shelter training in Lewiston that was attended went very smooth.

Dave suggested Emma and Leatha get together with members of the hazmat/mass casualty trailer and work in conjunction with them. Also, Creston has a portable kitchen that may be available for use if needed.

George Shutes, ITD: The ITD is gearing up for winter; he is having a meeting at 0930 at the Visitors Center today for several of the emergency services members.  He did mention they would be using straight salt and salt brine on the highways this year.

With no further business the Meeting adjourned at 0900

Minutes submitted by J. Jeske BFPD