I had these written up and done but for some reason I never added them to the active posts on the blog here. Sorry for the delay. I thought these were posted last week.
Alderman Rowe was not in attendance at these committee meetings. Alderman Ebersohl arrived about ten minutes late.
Ambulance, Radio Communication & Dispatch
• Monroe County Interoperable Communications Committee Meeting of 08/25/09 Presentation & Discussion
This meeting was fairly technical in a subject I am not too familiar with so bear with me and feel free to correct me as always if I make a mistake.
The FCC will require all emergency personnel and districts to have a narrowband radio system in place by January 1, 2013. Columbia has begun installing and purchasing radios that will meet these specifications so they will be ready for the deadline. Narrowband radio is shorter range than other systems. This system also allows for only communication between two people at any one time. Columbia has one frequency to use under this system.
The regional counties in both Illinois and Missouri as a whole have begun making a shift towards an 800 MHz digital system. Monroe County is moving towards adopting this system and is looking for all communities to join in the effort as a collective to apply for grants. The system for the county will cost between $1.5-1.6 million and could cost Columbia upwards of $35,000 a year in maintenance and “subscription fees”.
This system allows for “trunking” which gives personal a ~97% chance of getting through when they need to. If I understand correctly the digital system will allow for departments to set up frequencies for special units on an as-needed basis. It’s a much longer range system with better reception and will keep Monroe County and Columbia in contact with other cities especially in instances where other cities interact on calls in the rural or in major emergencies.
The committee voted to join in the coalition the county is forming to acquire this system.
I do not fully understand the systems as I stated before but I have to wonder what Columbia can and will do with equipment we have begun to purchase that may no longer be needed. What’s Columbia’s plan if this coalition does not acquire funding, do we pursue narrow band or try to go 800 MHz digital on our own?
License, Insurance, CEMA and Contracts & Finance, Claims , Bonds, and Interest (Joint Committee Meeting)
• Balance Due on Bottom Avenue Project
Illinois has realized Columbia owes them ~$37,000 for the Bottom Avenue project a few years ago. It was part of an agreement that Illinois paid the contractors and then Columbia would reimburse Illinois. Ron Williams dug through the files and we do in fact owe this money. If we had known we owed the money when the budget was created for this year it would have been put into the budget. It was decided that the city will need to pay this bill by altering the current budget and using money out of the Capitol Development Fund which has a projected year end balance at this time of $866,000.
• Cable TV Franchise Update, Review & Discussion
The city will work towards new franchise agreements with both Charter Communications and HTC. These agreements will mirror as close as possible the expiring agreement with Charter Communications.
Municipal Buildings, Property and Capital Improvements
• Miller-Fiege Home Security System Bid Review & Discussion
The city will get a security system installed in this historic home that includes four wireless smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Miller-Fiege Home Update
The electrical panel needs to be upgraded from a 100amp service to a 200amp service. $500 will be spent to upgrade this and some lighting around the home.
Streets Sidewalks, Drainage, and Public Utilities
•Detour Traffic Discussion
Traffic on Breidecker has picked up since it was made a through street due to the Cherry Street construction. The city will install some “Slow Signs”. No speed bumps will be installed. Chief Edwards said he sat there for two and a half hours, he made three stops, one speeding and two for rolling a stop sign. All three drivers were issued warnings. Everyone suspects that people are not speeding but the increased volume makes it seem so to residents. Chief noted that the department does not have the resources to post someone there.
Personnel
•Pre-Employment Screening
It was discussed to have pre employment screening with St. Elizabeth’s for all people hired by the city. Pricing examples given were as follows. $776.85 for a firefighter or $746.85 for law enforcement hires. The results of tests would not be known to the city but the doctor would give the city a pass/fail result based on criteria and job descriptions the city would provide.
•Collective Bargaining
Executive Session.
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