Fire Board meets to discuss apparatus purchase and staffing

General discussions between Graafschap Fire Board representatives from Fillmore and Laketown Townships took place on Thursday, March 6th. Talks were in-depth and meaningful regarding the aging fire apparatus and what the replacements should look like. Members also discussed future staffing needs and replacement turnout gear. The board approved minutes from the 2/6/2025 meeting are posted below. The draft minutes from the 3/6/2025 meeting will be posted next week.

Minutes

Graafschap Fire Board

4534 60^th Street

Holland, Michigan 49423

616-396-4060

Serving Fillmore and Laketown Townships

02/06/2025

0800 – Call to order by Chief DenBleyker

              Members present: Bob Yonker, Mark Geurink, Jim Johnson, Mike Koeman

              Staff/Public present: Chief Doug DenBleyker, Deputy Chief Mike Capel,

              Captain Dave Grumney, FF Ben Draper, FF Jacob Infante, Fillmore Supervisor John Yonker.          

0801 – Motion by Yonker, 2^nd by Koeman to appoint Jim Johnson as board chair. Approved 4-0.

0802 – Motion by Yonker to approve minutes from 11/14/2024 meeting. 2^nd by Johnson. Appr. 4-0

0805 – Chief’s Update

See attachment #1 dated 12/31/2024. Updates were given on staffing issues. Questions from Johnson and Geurink were answered. Pumper/Tanker Update. Anticipated delivery is in early fall. 1 change order was completed for a cost of $1,000. Full-time staffing update – 1 FF per 24/hour shift. Approximately $100,000 each, including benefits. Koeman asked about pancake breakfast funds and if any township money was used to fund it. The chief answered no, that it was a separate account from the townships. Profits are used to purchase extra items not in the budget, plus donations are made to different charities and there is seed money for next year’s breakfast.  Johnson asked about current recruitment. Discussion and explanations followed. The chief addressed requirements for full-time will be FF 1&2, EMT, Pump proficiency test, physical agility test, and other requirements yet to be determined. The chief stated he will be seeking approval for full-time firefighters in the 2026-2027 budget.

0820 – Budget Proposal

The chief stated this was his first budget proposal that he had prepared. The previous Laketown manager had always set the budget. See fund # 206 (attachments #2) for details. Summary – Paid-on-call staff have not seen a raise since 2022. In the future, he proposes raises will be every year and based on the “COLA”. (Cost of living allowance). Johnson asked what the current hourly rate was for the paid-on-call. The chief answered with $16 or $17 for training and a graduated scale for emergency responses from $21 up to $34, based on level of training. It is an incentive to train-up and provide better service for the residents. Johnson asked why the telephone bill dropped. The chief answered the new budgeted amount was closer to actual costs. The chief explained that the proposed overall budget is lower than current year due to the new pumper/tanker chassis (cash payment) noted in the capital outlay. The chief explained that the administration line came down to actual cost based on costs for neighboring fire departments have for their administrative services. The chief then explained the formula used to determine percentages of budget financial responsibility for each township, that has been in use since 1999. The breakdown for 2025/2026 is 27.09% for Fillmore and 72.91% for Laketown. This is up slightly for Fillmore due to an increase in emergency responses in their township. Yonker asked what the capital outlay line was used for. The chief explained it was to purchase items for the new truck, including a battery-operated ventilation fan, nozzles and other loose equipment. DC Capel also commented the new truck will need brackets, etc. for tool mounting. Much of the equipment from the decommissioned truck will be used on the new truck saving residents nearly $80,000. Yonker asked when the SCBAs would be due for replacement. The chief said they were not due to be replaced until 2033, however the brand we own are not made anymore and repair parts may become a problem. The chief explained the new line, Operational Fund Balance (Attachment #3) as monetary set-aside for future large capital purchases to avoid or reduce the financing needed.

0833 – Motion by Jonker to approve the budget, 2^nd by Johnson. Passed 4-0.

0835 – Accelerated Debt Reduction Plan

See attachment #4 for details. This plan is outside of the approved budget.

0839 – Apparatus Replacement Plan

The chief introduced the plan with different leasing options for new apparatus and turnout gear. He favors an 18-year lease with the turnout gear getting paid off in 5 years, thus lowering the payment. Johnson asked is a 30% per year cost increase for a truck sustainable. The chief answered no that something had to change. He then asked board members to take this plan home and digest it. He would like to schedule another meeting in March to discuss future apparatus purchases.

0854- Hypothetical Budget

The chief presented a hypothetical budget for 2026 – 2032 with the addition of 3 full-time firefighters and a new leasing plan.

0902 – Citizen comments – None.

0903 – Next meeting set for March 6 at 0800 in the training room at the fire station.

0904 – Motion to adjourn by Yonker, 2^nd by Geurink. Approved 4-0.

The next Graafschap Fire Board Meeting is TBD.