2020-12-14 Minutes
Meridian Rural Fire Protection District
33 E. Broadway, Suite 210 - Meridian, Idaho 83642
Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2020
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Call to Order:
The Meridian Rural Fire Protection District meeting for December 14, 2020, was called to order at 4:00
p.m. by Commissioner Ward. Roll call was taken.
Attendees: Commissioner Marvin Ward, Commissioner Derrick Shannon, Commissioner Randy
Howell, Chief Charlie Butterfield, Councilman Brad Hoaglun, and John Fitzgerald
Approval of the Agenda:
Motion was made and seconded to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Motion approved.
Approval of the minutes:
Motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the November 9, 2020, MRFPD meeting.
Motion approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
Approve and pay bills as follows:
Check #5356, City of Meridian, $84,351.14, October A, B, & C Budgets, Invoice #2747
Check #5357, Harris CPA’s, $1,425.00, Annual Payroll Fee, Invoice #90021491
Check #5358, Judy Gerhart, $100.00, reimburse for Chief Niemeyer retirement gift
Check #5359, Premier Signs, $850.00, Sign for Lake Hazel property, Inv #8579
Check #5360, Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District, $521.78, St. 6, Assessment #1504
Check #5361, The Land Group, $5,800, Lake Hazel Property Survey, Inv #011993/0145110
A motion was made and seconded to approve and pay checks numbered 5356 through 5361 as
presented. Motion approved.
US Bank and LGIP November Statements were presented for review and approval
Current net cash position is currently $3,775,400.81
Commissioner Howell received the Idaho Fire Commissioner’s Association annual membership
renewal invoice. Discussion followed on whether or not to continue the District’s membership.
Decision was made to continue membership in the Fire Commissioner’s Association and
Commissioner Howell will pay the dues at next month’s meeting.
Old Business:
1. Update on Lake Hazel property, Chief Butterfield. Sign has been installed on the property. Survey has
been completed and Chief Butterfield distributed the survey results for review and discussion. Chief
Meridian Rural Fire Protection District
33 E. Broadway, Suite 210 - Meridian, Idaho 83642
Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2020
Page 2 of 2
Butterfield also distributed two written proposals for asbestos testing, survey report and lead waste
disposal characterization for the Lake Hazel property. The plan is for Meridian Fire to conduct a
training burn on the structure located on the Lake Hazel property and asbestos and lead testing is part of
that process. The presented proposals are not for mediation of any found asbestos or lead, but to only
test for those hazards. The two proposals for testing are from Atlas Technical Consultants for $1,635.00
and from L & R Group for $1,360.00. Chief Butterfield received an email from All West Testing and is
expecting one more written proposal tomorrow from them for $1,200.00. The Commissioners asked to
wait until next month’s meeting to make a decision on the company in order to make sure they had
received all three written proposals to consider.
2. Chief Butterfield again discussed the possibility of the District contributing to the initial staffing costs
for the south fire station if the north and south stations are built concurrently. He also asked if the
District might still consider contributing if the stations are not built concurrently, but spread out over a
few years, 2020 to 2026. The south station is primarily rural residents. Chief Butterfield presented a
Gantt chart showing the two scenarios and the various costs and timelines associated with those options;
he is also presenting these to each council member. The question does arise as to which fire station
should be built first if we do not build them concurrently. The data Chief Butterfield has collected
focuses on the south property being developed first. Chief Butterfield can provide an executive
summary and analysis of information with data points at next month’s meeting to the Commissioners to
support his findings.
Also, it was noted that originally we were told that we could see a 10% savings by building the stations
at the same time, but now have been told that savings would be closer to 3%. This fiscal year, 2021, the
design of both stations was approved by Council and we are moving forward with the design portion.
New Business:
1. Discussion on support of Interim Fire Chief Charlie Butterfield for the vacant Meridian Fire Chief
position by the Rural Fire District. Counsel stated that the Fire Chief for Meridian Fire is not an
employee of the District so Executive Session is not required for this discussion. Counsel stated that it
would be permissible to have a letter of support of his application but not necessarily a recommendation
to hire. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for next month. Motion was made and seconded to have
Attorney Fitzgerald draft a letter supporting Charlie Butterfield for Fire Chief and bring it to the next
meeting for signature. Motion approved.
2. Councilman Hoaglun announced that this is his last meeting as Council Liaison for the Fire Department.
Councilwoman Liz Strader will be the new liaison starting January 1st.
Motion was made and seconded to adjourn the December 14, 2020, meeting of the Meridian Rural Fire
Protection District. Motion approved. The meeting was adjourned at 4:43 p.m.