MCFPD Board of Trustees thanked for progress By Cindy Henning Chairman Mike Curl closed the December meeting by complimenting the Meade County Fire Protection District board members on the progress made in 2005. He thanked them for their hard work on managing the budget and still providing a new fire truck and purchasing property for a new station. Treasurer Bruno Ilario demonstrated this careful budgeting concern by requesting that the purchase order process be used instead of the credit card for materials and supplies. He explained that a delay in routing the last bill to him cost an extra $45. Curl and Chief Larry Naser agreed that a purchase order did not work for some needs, but the purchase order process was usually adequate. Chairman Curl gave details about the reimbursement awards. $11,626 of the budgeted $14,783 was returned to the firemen to help cover their costs. Chief Naser explained that fire personnel have to make at least 20 percent of the runs and receive at least 36 hours of training annually to be eligible. Chief Naser reported 38 runs since the November meeting with an average response of 11 firefighters. Monthly expenditures were $13,422.35, with $69,280.09 spent since July 1. He invited all firefighters and trustees to bring their families to station one for breakfast on Dec. 24 at 9 a.m. The Jones property purchase agreement was approved by the board unanimously. Chairman Curl stated that the owner’s request for a sound buffer of trees could be done at a cost of $350 which trustee James Anthony asked be put in the contract. Curl added that the Meade County Fiscal Court had already signed over the easement between the road and the Jones property. Everyone was invited to attend the closing of the property deal which will be held at the fire station on Jan. 2, 2006 at 7 p.m. Chairman Curl updated the board that the National Guard had not responded to the fire department request to purchase property for a training facility. He had the impression that the Guard was more interested in leasing property instead of selling it. The board voted to go into closed session to discuss personnel hiring. Upon returning to open session, Curl explained that no decision was made but a committee of trustees Anthony, Ilario and Curl would be looking into the feasibility of hiring a full-time fire chief. Naser concluded the meeting with the reminder to check your smoke detectors, especially at this time of the year.
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