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MABAS Special Communications Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. at Lisle-Woodridge Fire Station 1. Present were committee members Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Dave Dato, Wauconda; Steve Rauter, Lisle-Woodridge; John Lozar, Ducomm; and Bill Bouma, Mt. Pleasant.
MABAS Statewide License
Chief Maplethorpe distributed the third draft of Advocacy Statement #7. He related that this draft incorporates prior comments from committee members as well as MABAS legal counsel Karl Ottosen. This draft was previously distributed via e-mail to all committee members and no additional comments were received.
A/C Rauter moved to approved Advocacy Statement #7, Statewide Radio License, as presented and recommend same for approval by the MABAS Executive Committee. Second by Chief Bouma. All AYES; motion carried.
Village of Matteson FCC Application
Chief Maplethorpe reported that IMSA forwarded an FCC application on behalf of the Village of Matteson that included a request for a base station license on 154.280 MHz (white fireground). Several departments in that area used 154.280 MHz for mutual aid dispatch prior to joining the MABAS organization. Chief Maplethorpe discussed the application with Chief Wilcox who related that two MABAS divisions in his area do not follow MABAS procedures regarding box alarm dispatch. They use 154.280 as both a fireground and dispatch frequency during fire events. Chief Wilcox asked for assistance resolving these issues and was invited to attend the MABAS Special Communications Committee meetings.
A discussion ensued concerning Matteson’s application and the use of 154.280 MHZ and their lack of licensing on 154.265 MHz.
Chief Dato moved to ask IMSA to deny the Village of Matteson’s request for an additional base station on 154.280 MHz since it violates adopted MABAS policy. Second by A/C Rauter. All AYES; motion carried.
Advocacy Statement Numbering
Chief Dato reported that D/C Tonne has requested that the Communications Advocacy Statements be renumbered to fit into the MABAS Policy & Procedures format. Chief Maplethorpe will make the changes and forward them to D/C Tonne.
MERCI Base Stations
Chief Dato opened a discussion on behalf of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force concerning proposed hospital MERCI base station radios. Several configurations were discussed. The consensus of the group was to structure the specification around a Zetron 4010 radio console, two base stations and an alert monitor receiver.
One base station would be configured T4-4R with transmit capability on MERCI 340, MERCI 400 and IREACH. It would have separate receivers for each MERCI channel, IREACH and Statewide MERCI 340. The second base station would have MERCI 280, or other appropriate Base/Mobile frequency, for hospital-to-hospital emergency/disaster communications. The alert receiver would allow the hospital to monitor and be alerted to MABAS calls in their area.
Rock Island County
Chief Maplethorpe reported that an issue in Rock Island County will have to be addressed soon. That county is using 154.265 MHz (IFERN) to dispatch local fire department(s) [Coal Valley] for routine still alarm calls. Since new MABAS Divisions are forming in that area, a conflict will arise. Chief Maplethorpe will attempt to make first contact to discuss the situation with them.
Narrowband Conversion
A/C Rauter again stressed the need for planning the eventual conversion to narrow-band operation. A brief discussion was held. It was agreed that a Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) must be formed to address these issues.
Communications Survey
A/C Rauter questioned the status of the communications survey. Members in attendance felt is was appropriate to get ahead of the planning curve and to go forward with the survey. It will be discussed with President Reardon.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2004 at 1000 hours at Lisle-Woodridge Station 1. Please mark your calendars. ----- The February meeting will be held on the fourth Monday to avoid a conflict with President's day. (Monday, February 23rd)
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