BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
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Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Beaver Lake Fire Department, Station 1
Location: 16035 Cypress LN, Rogers AR 72756
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/LuwDl_SgWS30FXECpTj3a-58X272o_LIj9PLDFQOqoqgFsdF_tgKMNQUkMbOXFEK.C4gdOH7e2p54aJGC

Password: BLFD2024!

1. CALL TO ORDER – Meeting convened at 6:00 PM.
1.1. Directors attending in person: Monte Gagliardi, Curtis Hathcock, Jerry Hudlow, Kelly Lewis,
Gisela Mejia, Ronda Pegram, Larry Smith, Todd Weber
1.2. Special Board members attending in person: Chief Dusty Qualls
1.3. Attending via Video: Special Board Member, Justin Stanbery
1.4. Absent: Jeff Easley, Laura Tucker,
1.5. Quorum Status. Requirement met. __8__ of 10 directors present. Plus 2 Special Board
Members.
2. Announcements. A change to the normal Agenda will be followed. New Business will be open for
discussion prior to review of old business to facilitate Board of Directors election of officers for the next
year.
3. Disposition of Previous Meeting Minutes.
3.1. Review Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for January 20, 2024.
3.2. Motion made by Curtis Hathcock to approve BOD January Minutes. Seconded by Larry
Smith. Motion approved by unanimous voice vote of directors present (8 of 10 total)
3.3. Review Minutes of Annual Membership Meeting held January 20, 2024.
3.4. Motion made by Curtis Hathcock to approve Annual Membership Meeting Minutes.
Seconded by Kelly Lewis. Motion approved by unanimous voice vote of directors present.
(8 of 10 total)
4. Open to Public Comments. None.
5. Reports of Officers
5.1. Fire Chief Operations Report. Chief Qualls provided summarization of responses made during
the last month. The numbers on the chart represent number of incidents occurring within the
BLFD General Service Area (GSA).
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
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5.2. President’s Report. Reported that members having attended the annual membership meeting are
please with the direction BLFD has been moving during the last year.
5.3. Treasurer’s Report.
5.3.1. Review Monthly Financial Documents. Gisela Mejia covered financial statements for
operations during the month of January. Highlights included 833 funding that was received
and over $500 interest earned on our funds placed in an interest earning account. Some
discussion was revisited concerning track methods for funds that have been raised or
donated for a specific purpose. Almost all funds are currently held as general operating
funds. We will track specific purpose funding as needed.
5.3.2. Motion made by Gisela to approve monthly Balance sheets, P &L, and Budget review
documents for January. Seconded by Curtis Hathcock. Motion approved by
unanimous voice vote of directors present. (8 of 10 total)
5.4. Secretary’s Report. None.
6. Reports of Committees – No updates.
7. New Business.
7.1. Election of Officers for the Board of Directors.
7.1.1. Current active board officers: Chairman, Jeff Easley; President, Todd Weber; Vice President,
Monte Gagliardi; Secretary, Curtis Hathcock; Treasurer, Gisela Mejia; Vice Treasurer, Laura
Tucker. Brief discussion was continued from that begun during the January BOD meeting
summarizing the general consensus of directors to keep those serving in current positions
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
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through the end of this year. RESOLUTION 2024-B-002, Election of Officers for Board of
Directors was drafted by the Secretary.
7.1.2. Motion made by Larry Smith to approve RESOLUTION 2024-B-002, Election of
Officers for Board of Directors of BLFD. Seconded by Todd Weber. Motion approved
by unanimous voice vote of directors present. (8 of 10 total). The Secretary will get
signatures from all directors on the resolution.
7.2. Acquisition of replacement for Watercraft (Boat) to meet expected need for increased water
activities within the BLFD GSA. Chief Qualls provided preliminary information concerning a boat
to replace the one that was a total loss from last year due to hull structure damage. The preferred
new boat would be a commercial hauler type boat built to specifications the department would
provide. Estimated cost came in at approximately $61,352. Build time would be about 6 weeks
from official order time. The boat would be covered by a warranty.
Discussion was opened on response criteria. The highway 12 bridge crossing is typically used as
a boundary for response. CENTCOM uses a 3-boat launch method for incidents. North of the
bridge usually generates a response request to BLFD (currently has no boat), Avoca FD, and
Rocky Branch FD. NEBCO has a very large boat, but it is not normally used for first responder
type incidents. Incidents can include backup support for the Sheriff’s Department, search and
rescue, or house fire near the shoreline.
Consensus is to better develop an analysis of the need for boat how it will complement BLFD
operations. There is a concern among some directors that BLFD does not have a presence on the
lake, currently.
7.3. Replacement vehicle for Truck 1252 (Tahoe). The vehicle is old and not adequately configured
for BLFD operating needs. Initial pricing for a 2024 Silverado 3500 with crew cab is just above
$51,000. Completing final configuration of the bed for the truck would bring the price to nearly
$100,000.
7.4. Firefighter staffing increase.
7.4.1. Plan to increase staffing personnel for firefighting in 3rd quarter (June – August) of fiscal
year. This was an erroneous item that will not be discussed at this time.
7.4.2. Volunteer Firefighter staffing. Live-in Firefighter Program. Currently 3 firefighters are
participating. A need exists to continue improving the living quarters for the live-in
firefighters.
7.5. Unofficial Request from Benton County for use of Cypress Fire Station Parking area by Road
Works Department.
7.5.1. Placement of 8 foot by 8-foot Conex for equipment storage.
7.5.2. Use of 24 foot by 24-foot area to store road salt.
7.5.3. Board members concurred with Chief Qualls to not permit the county to use our parking
area for roadworks staging.
BEAVER LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
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8. Old Business
8.1. FY 2024 Budget Review/Adjustment.
8.1.1. Understanding 2024 Budget Review.
8.1.2. Determine when vote for any changes may be required based upon exceeding current
approved funding levels.
8.2. BLFD Bylaws Review/Update/Amendment. Curtis Hathcock made appeal for directors to
provide comments and recommendations for changes they would like to make and/or discuss.
Comments can be sent via email to Curtis for documentation and further discussion at future
meetings.
9. Other Business.
9.1. Chief Qualls will be fulfilling duties as the Deputy Chief of Operations for the City of Rogers Fire
Department. This is a temporary assignment lasting approximately 60 days. Congratulations
Chief Qualls. Chief Qualls tour of duty will be ending soon.
9.2. Next Board Meeting scheduled for March 12, 2024, at BLFD Fire Station 1, 16035 Cypress LN,
Rogers AR 72756.
10. Adjournment. Motion to Adjourn was made by Todd Weber. Second made by Ronda Pegram.
Motion approved by unanimous voice vote of directors present. (8 of 10 total)
SUBMITTED BY: Curtis Hathcock, Board Secretary