BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
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Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Prairie Creek Association Community Room
Location: 14432 Hwy 12, Rogers AR 72756
Zoom Link: Watch recording of the meeting Meeting starts at the 4 minute and 55 second mark.
1. CALL TO ORDER – 10:00 a.m.
1.1. Directors attending in person: Jeff Easley, Curtis Hathcock, Jerry Hudlow, Kelly Lewis, Steve Long, Gisela Mejia, Ronda Pegram, Larry Smith, Todd Weber.
1.2. Special Board Members attending in person: Chief Dusty Qualls, Captain Justin Stanbery
1.3. Attending via Video: Laura Tucker
1.4. Absent: Monte Gagliardi
1.5. Quorum Status. Quorum of 10 out of 11 present.
2. Chairman Comments.
Chairman Jeff Easley opened meeting with general comments. For those in attendance, Jeff noted that comments would be much like those presented for the Annual Membership Meeting. Discussions on Bylaws will be suspended till the next regular meeting along with other issues like the Multi-purpose Fire Fighting Apparatus, fire station backup generator, and the CY2025 Budget proposal.
3. Disposition of Previous Meeting Minutes.
3.1.
Review Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for August 13, 2024. Secretary Curtis Hathcock opened review seeking additional comments from board members. He noted that he had been late providing a draft to the members and wanted to confirm whether any members had additional comments. No comments were provided and all agreed to go ahead and vote for approval on final minutes as presented.
3.2.
Motion to approve Minutes of meeting held on August 13, 2024, was made by Curtis Hathcock. Motion seconded. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote of those present.
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
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4. Open to Public Comments.
4.1. At the request of members in the gallery, the Board Members each introduced themselves.
4.2. Ray Dake requested an explanation on how dues were determined. Jeff Easley discussed the fire department fee process, noting that the fee is $200 per occupiable structure on a single parcel of land, and that mobile homes and duplexes are considered as occupiable structures. The fee was raised from $150 to $200 during a special election in May of 2023. He cited and example of how he pays 2 fees because his property has been determined to have 2 occupiable structures on it.
4.3. Explanation was provided how since the inception of BLFD a flat fee, once size fits all has been used for determination of dues. However, the Board did have members that were attempting to develop a different method to determine dues that might better meet the objections of Mr. Dake. This process would require much more work, and any resulting changes would need to be approved by the membership.
4.4. Jeff Easley, President Todd Weber, and Chief Qualls highlighted the challenges of recruiting volunteers for firefighting services and the need for part-time paid firefighters. He emphasized the importance of having the right leadership and organization in place to manage the budget effectively and mentioned that the organization is one of the best-equipped rural fire departments in the state. Lastly, they encouraged members to attend board meetings. A broad scope of discussion ensued.
5. Reports of Officers
5.1.
Fire Chief Operations Report.
5.1.1.
Chief Qualls provided a summary of many issues he is working for improving operations. These include continuing work for defining requirements for the Multi-Purpose Firefighting Apparatus, Backup generator bid request for the fire station, and other outstanding items. Lastly, he introduced a new fire marshal at Benton County (Lonnie Harrell) and encouraged members to attend the board meetings.
5.1.2.
Reviewed monthly response numbers.
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
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5.2.
President’s Report. Deferred comments to the Annual Meeting.
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
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5.3.
Treasurer’s Report.
5.3.1.
Review Monthly Financial Documents. Treasurer Gisela Mejia provided a financial summary for the year to date, highlighting a total balance of $432,231 in bank accounts. She also discussed the budget versus actual report, noting that the actual budget was slightly lower than the budgeted amount.
5.3.2.
Motion to approve monthly Balance sheets, P &L, and Budget review documents for the month of August made by Gisela Mejia. Seconded by Ronda Pegram. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of those present.
5.4.
Secretary’s Report. None.
6. Reports of Committees – No updates.
7. New Business.
7.1.
None.
8. Old Business
8.1.
Acquisition of new Firefighting/Recue Apparatus. Tabled to October Meeting.
8.2.
Backup Generator Project. Tabled to October Meeting.
8.3.
BLFD Bylaws Review/Update/Amendment. Tabled to October Meeting.
9. Other Business.
9.1.
Next Board Meeting scheduled for October 8, 2024, at BLFD Fire Station 1, 16035 Cypress LN, Rogers AR 72756.
9.2.
Proposed Bylaw Review items for next meeting. TBD
10. Adjournment. 10:36 a.m.
SUBMITTED BY: Curtis Hathcock, Board Secretary