WISCONSIN FIRE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION
QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2004
PLAZA HOTEL AND SUITES - WAUSAU, WICall to order by President Vajgrt at 1015 hours
Roll Call
President Bob Vajgrt present
1st Vice President Dave Lind present
2nd Vice President Steve Koback present
Exec Sec Treasurer Gil Hucek present
Recording Secretary Tim Rasmussen present
Past President Janet Harter excused
Parliamentarian Jeff Pollard present
Area 1 Chair Bob Gower excused
Area 2 Chair Tom Weber excused
Area 3 Chair vacant
Area 4 Chair Mike Boehmer excused
Area 5 Chair Tod Doebler present
Area 6 Chair Paul Voigt excused
Area 7 Chair Dick Trilling excused
Area 8 Chair Bill Becker absent
Area 9 Chair Ron Omernick present
Area 10 Chair Paul Wirth excused
Area 11 Chair Jerry Paulson absent
Area 12 Chair Gary Puljas excused
Area 13 Chair Dave Krupich present
Area 14 Chair Ed Jeffries excused
Area 15 Chair Arthur Gil de Lamadrid excused
Area 16 Chair Mark Hoppenjan present
Dept of Commerce Cathy Cliff present
others present Kevin Timm committee representative
SECRETARIES REPORT
Motion by G Hucek, seconded by S Koback to accept the secretaries report as distributed. Motion carried.
TREASURER'S REPORT
G Hucek reported that we have:
checking $ 2048.73
savings 36036.10
Total 38084.83
Motion by T Doebler, seconded by M Hoppenjan to accept the treasure's report as read. Motion carried.
FIRE SERVICE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
T Doebler reported that the committee met two weeks ago and a lot of controversy has erupted from the IFSAC accreditation process. The curriculum being used and the books are not what the test are coming from.
T Doebler also reported that the Inspector I certification was not being looked at because it was forgotten. Questions on whether to look at the course were raised and they may go completely with the NFPA accreditation.
INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
T Doebler reported that some changes are being made in the curriculum and the entire course may be looked at in another year.
LEGISLATIVE EMS COALITION
M Hoppenjan reported that the committee has not met since January. They are having trouble getting a meeting date set.
VENDORS
no report
SOG AND BY-LAW COMMITTEE
Moved to new business. Several changes were proposed.
WEARS AND NOVELTIES
no report
FINANCE COMMITTEE
D Lind reported that the books are at the auditors for an annual audit. They have no news at this time.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
G Hucek reported that we presently have about 525 members. The annual membership dues reminders are going out soon.
WEB SITE COMMITTEE
D Lind reported that the web site needs more people visiting and using it. B Vajgrt will add a reminder to the next Wisconsin Fire Journal article to remind members to visit our site.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
J Pollard reported that a basic inspector class was held in Ashwaubenon and was attended by 18 personnel. The class was well received and most comment sheets were good.
Some items they may look at expanding to are: site plan review for emergency responders, how to calculate occupancy loads and exiting requirements, cooking fires and fire suppression, how to deal with temporary occupancy changes, Type K extinguishers: why and where.
They may also look at expanding our web page to include most of these issues and provide links to where to find the answers.
SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE
T Rasmussen reported that the committee needs direction on what to look for in the 2006 and 2007 conference schedules. A proposal to combine the spring and fall conferences, provide one full week of instruction, keep the course tracks separate and check with hotels to see what they will offer was offered to the board.
M Hoppenjan requested that a questionnaire be developed to see input from the inspectors at the conferences.
C Cliff suggested getting this on the web site to see what feedback we can get. Also get the issues into the Wisconsin Fire Journal.
Motion by D Lind, seconded by D Krupich to have the committee look at sites for the 2006 and 2007 conferences and work on this as an annual conference instead of two separate conferences and then report back to the board to show what is offered. Motion carried.
AWARDS COMMITTEE
S Koback reported that he will be at the Fire Chief's conference to present two awards. One to a full time chief and one to a volunteer chief who have provided outstanding contributions to fire prevention in Wisconsin. S Koback also reminded the board that all nominations should be sent to 1609 Sand Hill Lane, Stevens Point WI 54481.
UST COMM 10 COMMITTEE
S Koback reported that the itinerary for the fall conference is set and they are working on who will do the presenting.
SPRINKLER TRAILER COMMITTEE
T Doebler reported that the sprinkler trailer is located at its new home and can be reserved by looking it up at sprinklerfitters183.org. They have a calendar available and an 800 number to call. The sprinkler fitters are doing the presentations and delivering the trailer on request.
COMM 14 CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
D Lind reported that the committee has made some headway. The issue with 2% dues being paid if you have "substantial compliance" was approved. The method for administering the funds was also approved.
C Cliff reported that the scope statement for Comm 14 has been looked at and the committee is trying to keep on track with their proper scope. They are looking at changes in the NFPA 1 2000 edition compared to the 2003 edition. The difficulties come in the Wisconsinisms that were created for Wisconsin-specific issues such as 2% Dues funding and distribution including the audit process and some other special items like exclusion of "natural cut tees" as Christmas Trees.
Questions on the Commercial Building Code Council were raised and we were assured that the Comm 14 committee is a stand alone committee and is not under the direction of the Commercial Building Code Council.
COMMERCE REPORT
C Cliff reported that she is retiring from public service in the near future and her replacement has not been selected at this time. The Comm 14 Committee has selected Terry Nolen to replace Cathy as committee chair.
Enrolling the new Comm 14 Code to include all fire issues will continue to be a problem due to copyright issues when working with NFPA and the ICC in the same document.
Motion by D Lind, seconded by S Koback and M Hoppenjan to generate a plaque of recognition for the work Cathy Cliff has done during her time with the Department of Commerce and the advancements made in the fire service under her guidance. Motion carried.
FIRE SERVICE/COMMERCE LIAISON COMMITTEE
K Timm reported that he has accepted the position of Fire Chief for the Two Rivers Fire Department and will be taking over that post on July 6. A replacement for him on this committee will be needed.
C Cliff reported that this committee has been very active and has worked well in getting the issues out to Commerce that are troubling the fire service. She also reminded us that this is a fire service committee that Commerce participates in.
FALL CONFERENCE
K Timm reported that R Omernick will be taking his place on the fall conference committee.
Most of the classes are set for the fall conference and an unofficial agenda was handed out.
K Timm reported that Wausau has done a lot of work for the conference and has gotten donations from Starbucks Coffee and Coca Cola for the breaks. They are also working with the Budweiser distributor for a donation for the vendor night. A local gym will be offering free workouts and several area businesses will be offering prizes.
D Lind requested a presentation of a one day course from IFMA on NFPA 72. This will be offered on Wednesday.
FIRE FIGHTER MEMORIAL
S Koback reported that the statue will be unveiled on October 2 in Wisconsin Rapids. The statue will be touring the State before its official unveiling. For more information look on their website at WSFM.org
OLD BUSINESS
none
NEW BUSINESS
D Lind presented changes to the SOG's and they were reviewed by the board.
Motion by D Lind, seconded by T Doebler to accept the changes to the SOG's as amended by the board of directors at this meeting. Motion carried.
D Lind presented proposed changes to the by-laws. These were looked over and will be posted and voted on at the fall conference.
D Lind presented a copy of the IFMA newsletter and proposed that we support their efforts in getting arc-fault circuit interrupter technology adopted in this state.
D Lind handed out a copy of the IFMA Master and Work Plan and proposed getting together to accomplish one of these plans for our Association.
D Lind presented the ICC conference material and a representative may be sent from our Association to the conference in Salt Lake City Utah from September 26 - 29. Any board member interested in attending should contact D Lind by July 15, 2004.
Motion by D Lind, seconded by D Krupich to have the person attending this conference, if someone attends from our Association, approved by the executive board. Motion carried.
AROUND THE TABLE
M Hoppenjan requested clarification on posting of agendas and posting of meeting minutes from our Association.
Motion by S Koback, seconded by D Lind to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned: 1505 hours
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Rasmussen
Recording Secretary