MAST Update

Notes from the South Platte Fire Protections District Meeting

• KCMO Fire intends to fulfill the contract terms of the current MAST contract with the District. Their intention is to deliver the same level of service/response times.
  
• KCMO Fire is "eager" to maintain the contract if/when an RFP is requested.
• Mast Interim CEO sees "room for improvement" in service.
• Local 42 represents both entities which should make consolidation seamless.
• Current contract with MAST pegged to CPI each May, therefore no rate increase this past year.
• Board member Sanchez questioned Dyer regarding "political volatility" and effect on the Fire Department. Dyer responded everything was ok when he left the office today and Cauthen (Wayne the City Manager) was still on the job as far as he knew (much laughing).
• In regards to the Sanchez question Dyer mentioned when he took over as Chief in 2000 they had 157 grievances. Year to date (2009) they have had none.

It has been a year or so since I attended an Ambulance District Meeting. During public comments I encouraged the Board to be proactive in communicating with the entities in the District concerning the facts of the MAST merge, that misinformation was circulating. President Bobby Kincaid agreed it was important to get the facts out. Kincaid was cordial in our chat after the meeting. When I mentioned the fact that Dyer used the word "eager" to continue to do business with the District, Bobby mentioned there were "many" who wanted to do business with the District. Hmmm, interesting, let's see how that plays out.

As I was talking with Kincaid, Chief Carrizo came up to say hello. We exchanged pleasantries and Carrizo asked Bobby, "who is that guy?" pointing to a gentleman walking out the door wearing an orange hunting vest. "Why that's the mayor of Weatherby Lake" replied Bobby. Indeed.