Board of Trustees January 14, 2021
West Blount Fire & EMS District
The Board of Trustees for West Blount Fire and Emergency Medical Services District met at Fire Station No. 1 on January 14, 2021, the meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Greg Reid, Chair, leading with opening prayer. Three Trustees were present plus JJ Ivey, Fire Chief, Melissa Thomas, Treasurer, and Diane Cox and Lisa Morgan, Billing Managers.
The minutes of the November 12, 2020 meeting were accepted on motion by Marty Stover, seconded by Greg Reid.
Financial report – The operating balance for November was $299,657.89. Total receipts were $16,808.69, including dues of $13,902.51. Total expenses were $36,381.77, including payroll of $26,798.78, and maintenance and repair of $4,749.66.
The operating balance for December was $263,255.47 Total receipts were $12,680.84, including $12,432.16. Total expenses were $49,083.26, including payroll of $28,348.80, equipment of $5,281.02, and repair and maintenance of $3,379.60.
The Financial Report was accepted on motion by Marty Stover, seconded by Dolores Fort.
Chief’s Report
Total calls for November were 123: 62 medical, 3 structure fire, 12 auto accidents, 5 fire alarms, 0 vehicle fire, 33 public service, 0 unknown, 5 wild fire, 1 fire other, 1 911 hang-up, 1 hazmat.
Total calls for December were 139: 80 medical, 4 structure fire, 14 auto accidents, 4 fire alarms,
1 vehicle fire, 32 public service, 0 unknown, 3 wild fire, 0 fire other, 1 911 hang-up, 0 hazmat.
For the year 2020 total calls were 1,372: 758 medical, 40 structure fire, 121 auto accidents, 73 fire alarms, 9 vehicle fire, 316 public service, 4 unknown, 23 wild fire, 11 fire other, 13 911 hang-up, 4 hazmat.
Other items reported include:
Grant money has been deposited, ordered 3 cardiac monitors and 4 CPR devices
Reapplied for last year’s grant to be applied for a new truck. Also applying for a grant for new radios required by 911 for the new system, which will improve coverage. To cover the cost of this new system 911 is requiring a $20 per month user fee for each phone (we have 30), that would be $7200 per year for our department. This grant will help with the purchase price of the phones. When received, the AT&T phones used in the engines will be cut off.
COVID hit our fire fighters and office staff really hard, we had limited staffing for a while. Fortunately everyone is back and close to normal again.
Engine 71, the ladder truck, has a leak in the boom, which has to be taken apart. It is currently at Brindley Mountain and will cost approximately $6,000 to repair. Engine 62 has a leak, which has been going for years, and been fixed several times, right now waiting on a quote to repair.
Budget for 2021 will be presented next meeting.
The Chief’s report was accepted on motion by Dolores Fort, seconded by Marty Stover.
Fire District Board of Trustees – January 14, 2021 page 2
Old Business
Billing Update – At the end of November there were 8 total CLA’s (conditional lien agreements) on file, one was paid off.. The attorneys have a total of 225 accounts, 5 were paid in full, 211 have liens. We received a check from MSN (Massey, Stotser, & Nicholas) for $1,977.02 in November, total collected so far in 2020 $27,586.91, making total collected from MSN since 2018 of $72,580.95. There was 1 new account added in November. There was 1 new exemption approved, making total exemptions for the year of 130, and 5 denied for the year. Fire dues received in November was $13,902.51, plus $255 assessment fees, and $2,612.50 other, totaling $16,770.01 (2019 total at the same time was $10,917.78). [Total collected for 2020 is $528,435.72.] There are 648 accounts in the system with a balance totaling $259,352.98, which includes all outstanding dues from the beginning. There are 3,728 total accounts in the system. So far this year there has been 83% participation for payment of fire dues.
At the end of December there were 7 total CLA’s (conditional lien agreements) on file, one was paid off. The attorneys have a total of 218 accounts, 7 were paid in full, 208 have liens. We received a check from MSN (Massey, Stotser, & Nicholas) for $3,034.62 in December, total collected so far in 2020 $30,621.53, making total collected from MSN since 2018 of $75,615.57. There were 2 new accounts added in December. Fire dues received in December was $12,432.16, plus $210 assessment fees, and $2.24 other, totaling $12,644.40 (2019 total at the same time was $12,836.11). [Total collected for 2020 is $541,080.12.] There are 586 accounts in the system with a balance totaling $246,810.82, which includes all outstanding dues from the beginning. There are 3,730 total accounts in the system. So far this year there has been 84% participation for payment of fire dues.
The 2021 bills were printed on January 6th. The post office will be resending the certified letters that are still in transit after 3 months at no charge to us.
Election of Officers – On motion by Dolores Fort, seconded by Marty Stover, the following slate of officers was unanimously elected:
Chair Greg Reid
Vice Chair Marty Stover
Secretary Dolores Fort
New Business
Board Appointment – At the business meeting of the Blount County Commission, Annette Cox was reappointed to the West Blount Board of Trustees beginning December 1, 2020, term to expire November 30 2025.
Other board members and term ending dates are:
Greg Reid term to expire November 30, 2021
Dolores Fort term to expire November 30, 2022
Billy Giddy term to expire November 30, 2023
Marty Stover term to expire November 30, 2024
Fire District Board of Trustees – January 14, 2021 page 3
Announcements
The next meeting will be February 11, 2021, 7:00 PM at Fire Station 1.
The meeting was adjourned on motion by Marty Stover at 7:45 PM.
Present Not Present
Dolores Fort Annette Cox (ill)
Greg Reid Billy Giddy (ill)
Marty Stover
JJ Ivey
Melissa Thomas
Diane Cox
Lisa Morgan
1 guest signed attendance
3 firefighters were present
Respectfully submitted,
Dolores Fort
Secretary
