RE: Meeting with west valley FDThat's fine. I'll set up the meeting but would it be ok with you to
have a county person there as well so we could perhaps expand the
process to other departments?
Jane
From: Tammi Fisher
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 10:03 AM
To: Jane Howington
Subject: Re: Meeting with west valley FD
I agree with you about this needing to be a countywide resolution.
However, if west valley is willing to meet with us, I think we should
make that happen. If, for not other reason, then to show them that the
"old" way of doing things is not going to happen anymore. So if it
would, in any way, help mend fences with WV, then we should do it. And,
no WV did not sign the countywide agreement, according to their
statements last night. Their president went so far as to say that he
would not go into a burning building with KFD because our training is
different. Whether they willingly engage in open dialogue to remedy a
situation, or they are shamed into doing it, I think airing of concerns
on both sides is warranted, and frankly, the taxpayers want it to
happen.
So yes, there should be a countywide meeting, but I would like us to
meet with WV in the interim. If they asked to meet, I think we should
respond.
Would you like me to work with Duane and Bob on finding a time?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
________________________________
From: Jane Howington <jhowington@kalispell.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:50:31 -0700
To: Tammi Fisher<tfisher@kalispell.com>
Cc: Dan Diehl<ddiehl@kalispell.com>;
dlarsen@kalispell.com<dlarsen@kalispell.com>
Subject: RE: Meeting with west valley FD
Tammi,
There are currently two mutual aid agreements that cover this type of
issue. The first is state law which mandates communities' responses for
mutual aid BUT the fire agency in which the fire is located must request
the other jurisdictions response. The second agreement is a mutual aid
agreement the county developed about a year and a half ago. Kalispell
signed it but we aren't sure if West Valley did. Still, there is a need
for the "home" department to request our attendance. After the
Stillwater fire, Dan met several times with Rod and offered to sign an
automatic mutual aid agreement.
The consolidated dispatch center should resolve some of these turf
issues as they are planning on implementing dispatch operations on a
closest responder dispatch. The West Valley fire department would still
have to put us on their run card to do this.
You are correct in the frustration over the turf issues. Unfortunately,
much of this developed from past administrative staffing and Dan has
been trying to get over this hump for some time. While the meeting you
suggest is fine, it would be great to have this type of "summit" as a
county-wide opportunity. Perhaps the timing is good since the 911
center is about to come on line and it will change the way emergency
response is conducted and, we are about to have a new emergency
management director as well.
Thanks.
Jane
From: Tammi Fisher
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 9:11 AM
To: Jane Howington
Cc: Dan Diehl; dlarsen@kalispell.com
Subject: Meeting with west valley FD
Hi Jane-
I was asked to attend a home owners association meeting for stillwater
estates last night. The fire chief from West Valley was there, as was
the President/trustee of their fire dept. In sum, the residents were
very distressed that there is no mutual aid agreement between WV and
KFD. WV stated that since January the city has not contacted them to set
up a meeting. I said I would ensure that we sat down with WV. They would
like you, Dan, Duane, Bob Hafferman and I to meet with them to put egos
aside and try to hammer out an agreement. Can you work on scheduling
this please? The second week of April, I will be through the first part
of May.
I would like us City fold to meet prior to meeting w/ west valley so I
can discuss in more detail WV's concerns/criticisms. Whether WV will
ultimately be reasonable is anyone's guess, but the public is getting
really tired of juvenile turf wars, and so am I.
Thanks!
Tammi
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
________________________________
From: Jane Howington <jhowington@kalispell.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:38:50 -0700
To: Tammi Fisher<tfisher@kalispell.com>
Subject: monk and wise
Tammi,
As an FYI, I'm scheduled to meet with Doug and Judy Wise on Friday
morning just to say hi and give them a general update of events around
the airport.
The Monk's called this morning and want to meet so I made an appointment
for next week. I will plan to provide the same information to them as I
do to the Wise's.
Jane