Haworth Volunteer Fire Department
Minutes of Regularly Scheduled Monthly Meeting


CALL TO ORDER:
    The Haworth Volunteer Fire Department held a regularly scheduled monthly business meeting on Monday, August 8, 2005 at the Haworth Fire Department.  Chief Floyd Middleton called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  Members present were: Eric Jackson, Floyd Middleton, Scott Smith, Jimmy Ferguson, John Coffman, Chad Wright, Lyndon Farley,  Kyle Batson, and Kirk Storey.  Junior Firefighters present were: Landon Middleton, Shane Farley, and Jarred Campbell.


MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
    Minutes of the previous meeting were presented.  Wright moved to accept the minutes as written.  Coffman seconded.  All members in favor.  Minutes approved.


FINANCIAL REPORT:
    Financial Report not received from Town.  Matter tabled until next month.


APPOINT TRAINING OFFICER:
    Middleton reported that Donnie Gray had resigned the Training Officer position at the July meeting and that he was appointing Chad Wright as the new Training Officer.


APPOINT PERSONNEL COMMITTEE:
    Middleton stated that a Personnel Committee needed to be formed to investigate applicants and make recommendations to the full membership, which would then be voted on.  The committee will also be responsible for making recommendations concerning disciplinary actions.  The committee will be composed of the Fire Chief and a representative from the Haworth, Redland, and Pollard communities.  Middleton appointed Jimmy Ferguson for the Pollard area, Kyle Batson for the Redland area, and Michael Carrell for the Haworth area.


REDLAND SUBSTATION UPDATE:
    Wright reported that the only work remaining to be done on the new Redland Substation is a small amount of electrical wiring, moving the propane tank and installing the heater.  He also reported that it may be necessary to obtain an electrical cord reel.


REAP GRANT:
    Storey reported that the REAP Grant application period had opened.  Member discussed applying for the grant and decided to apply for the same projects as the 80/20 and 50/50 grants.


OLD BUSINESS:
    Middleton reported that Rural Water District #1 had reached a decision on the fire hydrant issue.  Rural Water will not fund the installation of the hydrants, but would assist with publicizing any fund raising events the fire department scheduled.  The matter was tabled until next year.

    Middleton reported that he had visited with Wade Patterson, Assistant Director of McCurtain County Emergency Medical Service, concerning the agency not contacting this department concerning vehicular accidents within our protection area.  Patterson explained that state law requires ambulance services to either carry extrication tools on their ambulance or contract with a fire department to provide the tools.  The tools must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  EMS contracted with Idabel and Broken Bow Fire Departments.  Patterson did agree to advise their dispatchers to notify this department immediately after notifying the Idabel Fire Department.  

    Members discussed responding to medical calls.  Currently, the department has only one certified First Responder, but are being called to respond to an increasing number of medical calls.  Members asked Middleton to visit with Patterson and advise that the department no longer wishes to respond to minor medical calls.


NEW BUSINESS:
    Members discussed changing meeting dates.  Wright asked that shift workers be kept in mind when selecting a meeting date.  Ferguson moved to set the meeting date as the second Monday of each month.  Jackson seconded.  All members in favor.  Motion carried.

    Ferguson reported that a fundraiser had been scheduled for October 8th at 6:30 pm at the Pollard Substation.  The event will be a pie/cake walk, as well as a raffle for a deer stand.

    Members discussed moving tankers when the new pumper/tanker is delivered.  The 5,000 gallon tanker will be stationed at the Pollard Substation and the 1,800 gallon tanker will be stationed at the Redland Substation.      
   
ADJOURN:
    Ferguson moved to adjourn.  Coffman seconded.  All members in favor.  Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.


Floyd Middleton, Fire Chief
Kyle Batson, Assistant Chief
Kirk Storey, Secretary/Treasurer