HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-03-minutes-discuss-fire-marshal-structure-kvfr2017-03-03 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS’ MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE ROOM
ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON
FRIDAY 3:30 P.M. MARCH 3, 2017
Board members present: Chairman Paul Jewell and Vice-Chairman
Laura Osiadacz; Commissioner Obie O’Brien.
Others: Mandy Buchholz, Deputy Clerk of the Board; Josh Hink,
Interim Fire Marshal; Lisa Young, HR Director; John Sinclair,
KVFR Chief; Rich Elliott, KVFR Deputy Chief and Joe Seemiller,
KVFR Fire Marshal
SPECIAL MEETING FIRE MARSHAL STRUCTURE-KVFR BOCC
At 3:30 p.m. Chairman Jewell opened a Special Meeting to discuss
with representatives of Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue (KVFR),
the future structure of the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Chairman Jewell gave a brief history of the discussions and
decisions that have taken place to land them where they are
presently.
Commissioner Osiadacz briefly reviewed the discussion that took
place previously when she met with KVFR, County HR Staff and
Interim Fire Marshal Josh Hink as well as the options she
prepared for the BoCC’s consideration.
Chief John Sinclair stated that KVFR’s costs would be more for
the County than what the City pays for KVFR’s services because
the County is much larger and has more need. He stated that KVFR
wants to be good neighbors but can’t take on the County’s
liability. He questioned what the County is trying to solve.
Chairman Jewell stated that the County is looking for the best
model for its citizens. Chief Sinclair stated that the easiest
part to figure out would be cost. He stated that figuring out
the authority would be much more difficult and complex. Chairman
Jewell questioned what the relationship with the City is and how
the authority breaks down between the two agencies. He also
questioned how appeals and variances are handled.
There was discussion on process options & model options.
2017-03-03 MINUTES 2
Joe Seemiller, KVFR Fire Marshal stated that he would like to
see cross training so that he and Deputy Fire Marshal Hink would
be able to cover for each other for vacations and sick leave,
etc. He stated that currently they are barely treading water in
both their inspections.
Rich Elliott, KVFR Deputy Chief suggested that they market the
services to the surrounding municipalities.
There was discussion on the current formula and whether or not
it’s sufficient.
Rich Elliott, KVFR Deputy Chief stressed to the BoCC that if
they choose this route they need to be 100% sure it is what they
want, because it will be between 50 and 100 hours of work
upfront between working with the Union, City of Ellensburg and
the KVFR Commissioners.
Chief Sinclair stated that this is possible, but they just need
to figure out the authority chain, etc.
KVFR left the meeting.
Staff was directed to set a follow up Special Meeting for
3/7/2017 to allow time for the Board to consider everything
discussed and debrief.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mandy Buchholz Chairman, Paul Jewell