Smooth Operator

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA

6 October

Fire Protection, Part II
Chief Richard Carrizzo of South Platte followed Bob Renton with his overview of the South Platte operation.  Consider this a dress rehearsal for the contract with WL that is up at the end of 2012.
http://www.spfpd.com/spfpd/

South Platte was founded in 1976 and covers 77 square miles.  They have an "auto-aid" agreement with KCMO FD, which means if South Platte is tied up, KCMO responds...and vice-verse.  Carrizzo explained it probably is to South Platte's advantage on calls, but it also allows KCMO to have access to their hook and ladder, an asset KCMO does not have north of the river.  South Platte participates as part of the regional assets plan for MARC and Homeland Security.  They have one of two HazMat tankers in the area.  In addition to fire the provide first response for medical calls.  They have been on training program to increase their firemen's EMT skills, they will soon be the first FD to be certified as EMT-Intermediate.  Chief Carrizzo was complimentary of the WL PD and their first on scene interventions.

Questions from BOA
Vic inquired about response times.  The standard is 70% in 7 minutes.  "What about the other 30%?", Vic asked.  Carrizzo, "80 to 90%, rarely less than 100%".  Tanya, "How large an area?", Carrizzo (again) 77sq miles.  Bos, "Is there a fire department in Northern Platte?"  Carrizzo, "Yes, in fact there are 7 fire protection entities in Platte County".   Based on Jerry's confusion on dispatching, Carrizzo explained the dispatching process.  Carrizzo mentions the City's water pressure is ISO rated #2 (this is good).  Jerry then said, " I as an idiot journeyman, assumed all fire hydrants worked." (I don't make this stuff up, really) and Carrizzo mentioned there are occasions when hydrants have no or low pressure. Jerry, " Do you look at yourbudget compared to other departments?".  Carrizzo, all the time, his board is very interested comparisons, they look to comparable to others in the region. 
The Chief then detailed their budget, which I will not print here.  They allocate 1.7% of their budget for admin.  They do receive some income from their regional training facility with departments as far away as Topeka coming in to train.  August year to date they have had 17 fire calls and 40 medical calls @ WL.

After all  that, Chief Carrizzo asks if Vic is comfortable with the levy by the FD.  Vic, "I'm still troubled by it".  Wow and huh?  Maybe Jerry isn't the only "idiot journeyman" in the room.