Mountain Green Fire - Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes - November 4, 2024
Notice Tags
Fire Protection, Fire Fighters
Notice Type(s)
Meeting
Event Start Date & Time
November 4, 2024 06:30 PM
Event End Date & Time
November 4, 2024 08:30 PM
Event Deadline Date & Time
11/04/24 08:30 PM
Description/Agenda
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MOUNTAIN
GREEN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
November 4, 2024
6:30 P.M.
4565 WEST OLD HIGHWAY ROAD
MOUNTAIN GREEN, UTAH 84050
NOTE: these Minutes are not intended as a verbatim transcript of the issues discussed at the meeting of the Board of Trustees. Rather, they are intended to reasonably summarize and highlight the substantive discussions of the issues set forth in the Agenda. The Board of Trustee meeting were recorded. Should you wish to listen to the recording of these events, please contact Tim Barnes, Chairman at MGFD.tbarnes@gmail.com and/or 502-310-9943 and a mutually convenient time and place will be arranged to listen to the recording.
Prior to the trustee meeting, the meeting participants were given a tour of the new Squad 132 vehicle.
Trustee Barnes called the meeting of the Board of Trustees to order.
Members of the Board of Trustees of the Mountain Green Fire Protection District in attendance:
Tim Barnes
Rici Johnson
Saul Grasteit
In attendance from Operations were: Chief Brian Brendel and Golden Barrett
No members of the public were in attendance.
Trustee Barnes asked if any in attendance had a conflict of interest in the matters being discussed at the meeting or otherwise. All present indicated they had no conflict of interest.
The Agenda was reviewed. Trustee Johnson made a motion to approve the Agenda; Trustee Grasteit seconded the motion; the motion was approved by the Trustees.
The next matter concerned approving the Minutes for the September 2, 2024 meeting of the Board of Trustees.. Trustee Barnes confirmed that the preliminary Minutes had been distributed to all the Trustees and Chief Brendel. Trustee Barnes asked if anyone had any comments or questions about the Minutes. No one had any comments or questions about the minutes. Trustee Johnson then made a motion to approve the Minutes; Trustee Grasteit seconded the Motion. The motion was approved. Trustee Barnes set the next date for the Trustee meeting for December 2, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.. The December meeting will begin with the final 2025 budget discussion (including public input) and approval and proceed to regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. All present indicated they planned on attending the December 2, 2024 meeting.
Trustee Barnes asked if any members of the public had any comments they would like to make. No one from the public were in attendance.
The Board then proceeded to discuss the following Agenda items:
Agenda Item No. 1: Preliminary 2025 Budget /Review of Expenses/ Checks and Bank Report / Tax Increase
Trustee Barnes handed out the preliminary budget for 2025. A handout was given to all meeting participants showing budgets from 2023, 2024 and preliminary budget for 2025. All meeting participants had been sent the preliminary budget in advance and were able to review prior to the meeting. Pending any new information from Ulrich accounting, the budget will be presented as the final budget at the December 2, 2024 meeting. Ulrich Accounting has been hired to reconcile, audit and create a spreadsheet listing all operational account and expenses MTD and YTD. Our Quickbooks account has been reconciled but had outstanding charges listed from prior years and current year and Trustee Barnes was not confident in 100% accuracy of accounting reports. In addition, Expenses have increased 20%-30% over the last two years and trustee board recommends a tax increase in 2026 to cover costs of maintaining safety standards and service levels for residents.
Trustee Barnes reviewed the PTIF accounts and bank accounts. During the review, a recap of accounts comparing 2023 and 2024. Total account balances of the accounts were handed out to meeting participants. Total of the accounts are comparable to last year but increasing costs are depleting the general fund faster than the previous year due to rising costs of payroll, insurance, fuel and equipment maintenance.
Attendees discussed tax rate increase proposal to increase taxes in 2025 to meet the operational needs and requirements of homeowners insurance providers. Trustee Barnes has asked that the trustees review the tax increase deadlines so that all key date requirements are met in 2025 for a tax increase in 2026.
Attendees discussed the large amount of growth in our community and need to increase budget to meet demand and cost increases. Trustee Barnes handed out the tax rate and budget from the state website. The tax rate has lowered to about half of the standard rate due to population growth in Mountain Green. A budget/tax increase has not been implemented since 2019.
Agenda Item No. 2: Ulrich Accounting
Trustee Barnes updated the group on changes with our accounting firms. Ulrich accounting will be contracted to complete all account reconciling and operations expense updates MTD and YTD each month. Ulrich will no longer be contracted to handle our state audits. Preparing expense reports and completing audits would be a conflict of interest. State audits will now be handles by our new payroll accounting firm.
Agenda Item No. 3: Tax Increase 2025/2026
Preparation and training for proposed tax increase for 2026. Due dates and responsibilities were discussed. Initially recommending a tax rate of .00075 will be recommended to meet the need of the department. Currently the tax rate is .00456. tax rate has decreased over the last five years due to increased taxpayers within the community.
Agenda Item No. 4: Chief's Report / Call Report
Trustee Barnes handed out copies of the Chief's reports for all in attendance.
The Chief discussed city growth and gave detailed explanation of new retail and residential construction.
Chief Brendel's recap was very detailed. MGFPD responded to many calls including house fires and traffic incidents. Staffing continues to be an opportunity.
Trustee Barnes thanked the Chief for his detailed report.
Agenda Item No. 5: New Business
- Partnerships with other districts were discussed (i.e Morgan Fire, Wasatch Peaks and newly proposed community of Nine Springs.
- New Fire Truck will arrive in late 2025. Funding will need to be arranged for the new fire engine in addition to the sale of our current Fire Engine.
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Trustee Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at approximately 8:35 PM. Trustee Gratseit seconded the motion - the motion passed.
TO OBTAIN FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MEETING, PLEASE CONTACT TIM BARNES, TRUSTEE at BARNES.T1@COMCAST.NET OR 801-695-0724.
APPROVED THIS ____ DAY OF December__, 2024.
_________________________ ________________________ ______________________
Saul Graseit, Trustee Tim Barnes, Trustee Rici Johnson, Trustee
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Tim Barnes at 801-695-0724.