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MABAS Communications Committee DRAFT Meeting Minutes May 16, 2005 |
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I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m. at the DuComm Communications Center. Present were committee members Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Bob Mierop, Bolingbrook; John Lozar, Ducomm; Bill Bouma, Mt. Pleasant; Gregg Riddle, IFCA; and Dennis Higgins, Livingston County.
II. Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
B/C Mierop moved to approve the April 18, 2005 meeting minutes as submitted. Second by Chief Bouma. All AYES; motion carried.
III. IAFC Talk Smart Document
A brief discussion was held concerning the recently released Talk Smart document from the International Association of Fire Chiefs as well as D/C Rauter’s e-mailed response. The consensus of the members present concurred with D/C Rauter’s assessment of the Talk Smart document. Further action may be taken at a future meeting after all committee members have reviewed the document and more members are present
IV. Old Business
A. MERCI Base Station Project
Chief Maplethorpe reported on behalf of Chief Dato that the MERCI base station radio project is approximately $390,000 over budget. Chief Dato indicated that the issue will be presented to the full ITTF.
B. VHF Interoperability Radios
Chief Maplethorpe reported for Chief Dato that the VHF Interoperability Radio Project has been stalled due to the cost of adding cigarette lighter adapters, magnet mount antennas and pelican cases.
Mr. Lozar questioned the need for these radios, although it was felt that both the MERCI and VHF Interoperability Radios were too far along to change the programs. Other possible uses was to shift funds to the MERCI base station project or create a new project to ensure that every fire department dispatch center in Illinois has an IFERN base radio.
C. Rock Island County
Chief Maplethorpe reported that he has been working with several departments in Rock Island County to update their radio licenses for the new dispatch frequency. Departments in Rock Island County are working on alternate funding to accomplish the frequency change project.
D. Gibson Area Ambulance
Mr. Higgins reported that Gibson Area Ambulance has been monitoring frequencies recommended by IMSA to move their repeater off of 154.295 (BLUE Fireground). He will contact Joe Higgins and have him contact Chief Maplethorpe regarding the status of the frequency monitoring.
E. Southwest Central Dispatch
B/C Mierop reported the he spoke with Chief Leahey of Clarendon Hills. Chief Leahy indicated the Southwest Central departments have been assured that their operations on 154.280 (BLUE Fireground) is legal. He further indicated that Southwest Central was looking into new technology with steep price tag.
Chief Maplethorpe reported that he spoke with Bob Fronek, a trustee at New Lenox FPD. He also reported that Southwest Central maintains that its operations on BLUE Fire ground are legal. He also reported that Southwest Central owns the station alerting systems located at each of the fire stations that utilize BLUE fireground.
The discussion centered on the accurate interpretation of the FCC’s rules. Chief Maplethorpe suggested that the MABAS Communications Committee obtain a formal opinion from the FCC and volunteered to author the request.
B/C Mierop moved to request a formal opinion from the FCC concerning Southwest Central’s station alerting operations on 154.280 MHz. Second by Mr. Lozar. All AYES; motion carried.
F. EMnet/LEADS
Mr. Higgins reported that his county has been contacted for the installation of a second EMnet terminal at his PSAP. He indicated that there are other duplications between County EMA’s that installed EMnet at a 24 hour PSAP and the current PSAP project. He has suggested that ITTF conduct a survey to determine how many other PSAPs already have EMnet installed and therefore do not need another unit.
G. Advocacy Statement #10
The MABAS Executive Board meeting scheduled for April was moved to May at the IFCA Symposium. However, it was ultimately postponed again. A new date has not been advertised.
IX. New Business
None
X. Information for the Good of the Committee
A. DuPage Interoperable Radio System (DuIRS)
Mr. Lozar reported that a new radio network has been established in DuPage County that can link public safety agencies countywide that use different frequency bands. The system will link and 800 MHz repeater, UHF repeater and VHF simplex frequency for cross-band interoperability.
B. Wisconsin Happenings
Chief Bouma reported that the City of Delevan will become the back-up dispatch for Division 103 in Walworth County. Delevan should be operational by July 1st. Chief Bouma questioned the testing schedule. Chief Maplethorpe related that Chief Justus from Mundelein is in charge of the MABAS Division radio testing.
Chief Bouma also reported that Waukesha County Division 106 will be MABAS operational on January 1, 2006.
C. Division 4 Dispatch
Chief Maplethorpe reported that Division 4 will be relocating its primary dispatch center from Lake Forest to CenCom in the Round Lake area.
D. Procedures Document
Chief Bouma questioned why the new MABAS procedures document was not posted on the MABAS website. The consensus of the committee was that the document was never approved by the Executive Board.
E. June Meeting
Mr. Riddle questioned if the Committee planned to cancel the June meeting. Several members present indicated that they would be unavailable in June. It was the consensus of the members present to cancel the June Communications Committee meeting.
XI. Adjournment
B/C Mierop moved to adjourn the meeting. Second by Chief Bouma. All AYES; the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
The next meeting for the MABAS Communications Committee is scheduled for Monday, July 18, 2005 at 1000 hours. The location of the meeting will be at the DuComm Communications Center in Glendale Heights. Please mark your calendars.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Maplethorpe Co-Chair |