Introduction
As summer draws to a close, activities continue to focus on the staffing of both stations and on completion of the quarters at Station 2.  Both communities were busy throughout August with visitors and residents seeming to enjoy the great summer weather.

Personnel

• Early in the month, a physical agility test, psychological evaluation, and knowledge test were administered to the candidates selected for employment during the interview process in July.  Both Melissa Wolf and Shawn Malec successfully completed the tests and will begin their employment with the department in September.  Melissa is a Firefighter and EMT-Specialist who comes to the department from North Flight and Grand Traverse Metro Fire.  Shawn is a Firefighter/EMT who formerly worked with Grand Rapids Township Fire. 
• The increased responsibility of staffing two stations has required that the part time calendar posted in the hallway of Station 1 be filled earlier than in the past.  As many have noticed, the calendar is now set-up to include four months, rather than two.  Part time staff members are requested to complete their request for shifts as early as possible, as any vacancies will be filled with full time staff members on an overtime basis.  Filling the vacancies ensures adequate staffing for both stations.  Once the calendar is opened up for overtime, a printed part time staffing calendar will be printed and the month closed for additional sign-up by part time personnel. 
• The personnel roster of the department has been updated with the Michigan Office of Firefighter Training to reflect new members and the addition of Empire township firefighters that had not previously worked within the department.  Updating the roster provides us with a uniform record of fire-related training and credentials for each member and eliminates the need to obtain copies of certain certifications for personnel files. 

Training

• Four training sessions were held during the month of August.  This is the second full month of offering duplicate EMS and fire training sessions to afford greater opportunity for attendance.  Two EMS training sessions on the topic of spinal motion restriction, athletic injury helmet removal were presented by Jay Morse, with two EMS credits offered (1 each lecture and practical).  11 members attended the first session and 10 attended the second. 
• Two fire sessions were held on engine pump operations, coordinated by Bryan Ferguson.  A relay was set up that included two drop tanks, Engine 311, Tanker 321, and Quint 331.  Engine 311 initiated water flow from the drop tanks and flowed water down to the tanker, which in turn, flowed water to the Quint.  The Quint returned water to the drop tanks/Engine 311.  During the session, participants rotated from apparatus to apparatus to increase familiarity with the operation of all pieces.  A total of 19 people attended the sessions.    

Administration

• Much of the month was spent in the preparation of the 2009-2010 budget and a review of the 2008-2009 budget for amendments due to the addition of the contractual arrangement with Empire Township.  The proposed budget will be reviewed numerous times in September by both township officials and the public.  The first public hearing is scheduled for the evening of September 10, 2008 at 7pm. 
• Samantha Seaburg completed her summer employment as a department assistant in the middle of the month.  Thanks to Sam, many records and files have been sorted, filed and cataloged for future reference.  All employee files have been cleaned and arranged as required by State and Federal requirements.  An audit of employee records was performed and all employees will be asked to update their files over the next few months.  Sam’s work and organization were greatly appreciated. 
• Updates and modifications have been made to the department’s webpage.  These reflect changes related to the combining of Empire and Glen Arbor townships’ fire services.  More changes are forthcoming and will include the addition of new photographs of the apparatus from station 2, along with more photos and explanatory information.  Department members’ e-mail addresses are hosted in conjunction with the webpage.  There is limited space available for members to retain their e-mails at this site.  Department members are asked to either forward e-mails to their primary e-mail site (if they have one) or to check the department e-mail box frequently and limit the number of messages saved until a “fix” can be identified. 
• The paperwork to re-license EMS vehicles for the department was completed in August.  The department’s agency license expires in September.  Re-licensure includes the payment of a fee ($150 to license three vehicles); obtaining the signature of the region’s medical director denoting that we are authorized to provide care within the medical control region and the completion of vehicle information forms and provision of proof of agency/vehicle insurance to the State of Michigan Department of Community Health.

 
Apparatus

• Knox box access key boxes have been mounted in 391 (oxygen compartment), 331 and 311 and the key has been placed in the boxes in 391, 311, and 211.  The internal workings of the box in 331 needed to be returned to the manufacturer for repair, but should be in place soon.  The Knox key is released by entering a code onto the keypad on the fixed boxes.  Fire departments throughout Leelanau County have these fixed key boxes in apparatus and access is permitted to any fixed box on any apparatus using codes programmed by Leelanau County (Glen Lake staff can access other department’s boxes and vice versa).  Knox boxes are in place on commercial structures in Empire Township.  As a reminder, Supra boxes are used in Glen Arbor Township.  
• Fuel expenses for apparatus have increased greatly, in part, due to the need to travel daily to Station 2.  It is estimated that monthly fuel expenses may approach more than $2,000 per month for the remainder of the year. 
• 282 has received emergency lighting.  A mobile radio and speaker also have been installed.  The engine of this vehicle had been running rough, so the fuel tank was emptied and cleaned, the fuel line inspected and the throttle governor adjusted to improve its operation.  A lanyard has been installed in the glove box of 282 (similar to that in 383) for a spare key
• Andrew Anthony was able to repair the leaking valve on the driver’s side rear discharge of 211 by replacing the ball valve which was corroded.  The idle control/governor on the pump panel of 211 has been repaired with the installation of a pressure transducer and it now functions reliably.  The radio on the pump panel of this apparatus cannot be repaired due to its age, and will not be changed at this time due to the cost of replacement. 
• The engine brake and idle control have been repaired on 221. 
• The left low beam headlamp was replaced on 393. 
• The motor that controls the “sidewinder” nozzle on the front of 241 was replaced.  It had not held in a “stow” position properly since purchase.  The manufacturer provided a replacement motor, which was installed by duty personnel.  The winch cable on the front of 241 has also been replaced.  The old one had several kinks in it and had been taken out of service for safety reasons.

Equipment

• New glucometers have been placed in EMS vehicles.  There is a competency review for the new device in the Communications Room.  All staff members are required to complete the competency review prior to using the device.  Access to the old devices will remain until all have completed the competency.

Facilities

• The quarters at Station 2 has received much of its wiring, plumbing and dry wall.  Department staff ran the coaxial cable, phone and network cables early in the month to facilitate placement of computer cables and to arrange for a call box at the front door, similar to the red phone box at the front door of Station 1. 
• The overhead doors at Station 2 were painted by Pete Stern.   In an effort to prevent fading and to ensure better longevity, a special paint was mixed and required expert care in its application.  New weather seal has been ordered for the doors and they have also been evaluated for the installation of mechanisms to prevent injury should someone be in the path of a door as it is being lowered.  Future work will include replacing some of the door casing/trim and repainting of the trim. 
• A water meter has been installed in Station 2 to record the amount of village water used.  Staff will notice additional plumbing at the front of the second and third apparatus bay doors.  Plumbing has also been roughed-in to install a sprinkler system, which will be in place prior to staff occupancy of the quarters. 
• Both stations have looked nice this summer due to everyone’s diligence in maintaining the floors and preventing clutter.  This has been accomplished despite the construction dust at Station 2.  It is appreciated. 

Special Events

• The Dune Grass Festival was held during the first few days of August.  While the festival did not involve additional assignments or a change in staffing, the population of Empire expanded greatly and additional care was required in routing and moving within the crowds.  The duty crews did some informal pre-planning in an effort to ensure timely and efficient response to the activity sites throughout Empire Township. 
• Several station tours, both formal and informal, were carried out in August.  The first was for a group of 18 children from the Glen Arbor Summer Camp.  They toured the ambulance, engine and sprayed water from a hoseline.  This was followed by a brief talk about how and when to call for emergency services. 
• Department staff participated in flag raising activities at the annual Old Settler’s Picnic. 
• First Aid and CPR training was conducted by Dr. Don Strachan on two days at the end of the month for approximately 16 Leelanau School staff that were unable to attend this same training offered by Munson Regional EMS Education several days earlier.  The department would have normally provided this training to the entire staff at the school, however, the additional certified instructors that would have been necessary to dedicate to the large number of staff they wished to have trained were not available.    

Acknowledgements

• Donations to the Glen Arbor Fire and Rescue Association are greatly appreciated.  This month, donations were received from the following individuals: 
• Hugh and Eileen Starks
• Mr. and Mrs. James Duff

Report Submitted by:

John A. Dodson
Chief of the Department