FALL APCO CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES
4-POINTS
SHERATON AIRPORT RD., DES MOINES
OCTOBER 3RD, 2006 8:00 A.M.
Meeting was called to order at
8:11 a.m. by President Judy Flores, Blackhawk
County. President Flores
entertained a motion to approve the meeting agenda. Motion was made by Sandi Hutchcroft, Dubuque
County, and seconded by Dave Murray,
Keokuk PD. Bob Seivert, Shelby County,
made a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The motion was
seconded by Julie Twedt, Hardin
County, and both motions
passed without opposition. Eric Nevins, Treasurer - Des Moines PD, presented
the Treasurer’s report next. Operating fund balance - $10,228 and Joanne
Perkins Scholarship fund balance – $8,120. Nevins explained that the Joanne
Perkins Scholarship fund was moving from its current location to avoid fees
which are depleting the fund balance. President Flores entertained a motion to
approve the Treasurer’s report. Motion was made by Nancy Sereduck,
Iowa City PD, and seconded by Michele Bott, Clinton County, without opposition.
Eric Nevins next gave a report
from the International Conference. Nevins reported that it was his privilege to
represent Iowa
at the conference. The representative can be the Iowa President or by
Presidential appointment. Nevins gave a brief but detailed report concerning
the make-up of the International council, their duties, and the issues
discussed at the International Conference such as manual changes, quorum
resolutions, grammar issues, by-laws, the financial report, the business plan
with a new executive director, and budget amendments.
The next committee report was
from Wendi Hess, Vice-President – Woodbury
County, of the Activities
& Membership committee. Hess was instrumental in planning the fall
conference. The committee is working on discounts, incentives, or membership
drives for the Spring Conference. One idea is to have the registration fee for
new members cover their APCO registration. Another thing the committee is
working on is shirt sales with the APCO logo; however this is in limbo pending
authorization to use the logo by National.
Hess reported she does need
additional people for the committee if anyone is interested.
Jeannie Carroll, Allamakee County, was not present for the Joanne
Perkins Scholarship committee. Wendi Hess advised the winners for the Fall
Conference were Katy Buck, Howard County, Arlene Nollen, Ida County,
and Susan Kuempel, Guttenberg PD. They
receive
a paid registration fee for the conference plus one nights lodging at the
hotel.
Constitution & By-Laws
Committee is in need of a chairman. Randy Thompson, Mills County,
reported there were no changes since the spring. The resolution voted on is in
the constitution & by-laws and it is current and up to date.
Corporate Advisory Committee
Chair Kirk Litynski, Motorola, reported he is working on getting the vendors on
the website. There are no vendors in the fall, but there were 25 last spring.
The goal for next spring is 30 vendors.
Training Committee Chair Lisa
Lawton, Boone County, was absent – no report. The
training committee is responsible for setting up speakers for the conferences.
Historical Committee Chair Julie
Twedt, Hardin County,
reported she was working on getting pictures into the scrapbook and needs
pictures from Florida
if anyone had them and wanted to share. She did receive some Minnesota Regional
pictures. She has gotten new 5 inch binders for the historical information and
will put those out for review.
Telecommunicator of the Year
Chair Teresa Todd, Washington County, first wanted to thank APCO for giving her the
opportunity to attend the Regional Conference in Minnesota via scholarship. She reported that
she has included information and applications in all the folders concerning the
Telecommunicator of the Year award and encouraged everyone to participate. The
committee consists of Dina Jones - Story
County, Butch Gibbs – Wayne County,
Paula Harris – Worth County, Judy Top – Osceola County,
and Billie Huffman – Bettendorf PD.
Rich Hester, ISP Communications,
gave the next committee report as Frequency Advisor. Hester reported his duties
included going online to APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach,
FL. and looking for new license applications from the state of Iowa. He helps those
applicants obtain and update radio licenses, as well as trying to search out
“open” frequencies. If he comes across an expired frequency he tries to contact
them and update the information. The goal is not to assign an expired frequency
to someone else. He urged everyone to update their information as sometimes he
has to play detective to achieve this. You can update your licenses free of
charge online and the FCC sends out postcards. You need your contact
information, FRN number, and password. He touched
briefly on how high band frequencies are saturated and they are refarming 800 MHz channels. He also stated that 700 MHz is
also opening up. There “are no clear channels”.
Iowa Telecommunicator Training
Board Chair Michele Bott, Clinton County,
advised she has been to two meetings and seeks input from PSAP
managers. A feedback form from PSAP managers is
desired. Some needs have changed and the basics stay the same. She passed
around a sheet for people to write training topics of interest to them.
Recognized in the audience were committee members Sandy Morris, Des Moines PD,
Lora Phillips, Johnson County, Dave Murray, Keokuk PD, Joe McCarville,
Muscom, and Andrea Shaffer, Pottawattamie County. Jan
Visser gave brief overview of how the board was
started, when, and its make up of persons/groups.
911 Council Chair Doug Slagle,
Marion PD, gave the next committee report. He explained that the council meets
every other month and that they also have traveling sessions. He has learned a
lot of information – the status of the money, maintaining progress & technology,
and gotten to know John Benson and Barb Vos. The
biggest concern these days is VOIP. If you have
concerns email Doug at 132@marionpolice.com.
Sally Hall, Iowa County, talked
about upcoming training for database standards. It will be a time to meet,
educate, and exchange information. Jamie Carlund, Iowa Telecom, Sally, and
Danielle Moore, Ramsey Emergency Services, have more information if needed.
Legislative Committee Chair
Gloria Isham, Scott County,
was absent. Diana Borash, Westcom, reported that the
retirement issue didn’t die but was taken off the table for further discussion
due to a lack of support. It was better to table as the timing was not right.
If it was brought forward and failed due to lack of support you could not try
it again for five years. Borash advised she was also forming a local work team
to facilitate a change to 34A as service areas have grown. You are entitled to
request an audit but there is no meat in the legislation as far as how soon
they have to provide the information. Some fees are not being collected or
sent. She intends to draft legislation and have it posted on the APCO website.
Strategic Planning Committee
Chair Joe McCarville, Muscom,
reported that 2-3 years ago they developed a 5 year plan for Iowa APCO. He
believes that the goals are being accomplished and the plan is available to
anyone who would want a copy.
First Responder Advisory
Committee Chair Randy Thompson, Mills
County, - see attached
report submitted by Thompson. “The Iowa First Responder Advisory Committee (FRAC) provides guidance to Iowa Homeland Security &
Emergency Management on how best to equip and train first responders and engage
them in homeland security planning. The FRAC consists
of a wide variety of different agencies and associations such as: law
enforcement, fire, EMS, EMA, Iowa Hospital Assoc.,
DHS, Public Health, Iowa’s AG Departments, State Universities, ISAC, and the Iowa League of Cities just to name a few. I
attended the meeting on July 24th, 2006. Several key topics were
discussed and concerns were brought up about the lack of funds available to
equip, train, and sustain the capabilities that have been established in Iowa since 9-11,
Hurricane Katrina, and Rita. One example of this is the State Urban Search and
Rescue (USR) currently housed in Sioux
City and Cedar Rapids.
This statewide deployable asset requested 1.2 million dollars to meet its goal
of equipping, training, and sustainment for the next
2 years, but only received approximately $600,000. The reason the USR teams only received half is Iowa submitted 15 grant requests for funding
to the Federal Government totaling 63 million dollars, but only received about
$13.5 million. Iowa Homeland Security was very pleased with what we received, but
it is not enough to meet the needs determined by our experts in the 15 areas
identified by the State. This is in line with what most Emergency Management
Coordinators have been expecting – the faucet of homeland security grant money
is drying up for now. Another topic discussed that will concern PSAP’s is the State Interoperability Communications piece.
The Bill on forming and the governance for State Interop
did not pass the legislature. Dave Miller has decided to continue working on
this project and has grant money available to conduct a state-wide survey of PSAP’s communication equipment and capabilities to begin
the process of determining what needs Iowa
has for Communications Interoperability. He will be forming an Ad-hoc
committee, following the guidelines from LEATAC as to
the make up of the committee. This topic will be discussed in more detail at
the next FRAC meeting and I will try to keep Iowa PSAP’s informed as to what may be happening in the future.”
Randall L. Thompson, FRAC Representative, Iowa APCO
LEATAC
Committee – Terry Nixon, Davenport PD, reported they hadn’t had the last
meeting and that there would be a presentation later on in the conference
concerning Interoperability. Terry Nixon and Eric Nevins are the APCO
representatives.
Public Education – APCO is in
need of a chair and committee members.
Webmaster Mark Van Hooser, Buena Vista County, reports he is trying to make
improvements to the website and welcomes information on errors or updates.
Newsletter – APCO is in need of
someone to take over the responsibility.
Nomination committee was the last
committee to give a report. They are responsible for bringing nominations
forward for officers. Bob Seivert, Shelby
County, reported that he
and Dave Murray, Keokuk PD, had not received any nominations to date. Seivert
asked for nominations from the floor for the offices of President,
Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. There were none brought forward.
Hearing no nominations it was the recommendation of the nominating committee that
the current officers be re-elected.
Motion made by Terry Nixon,
Davenport PD, and seconded by Terry Martinson, Cedar Rapids Fire. No
opposition, motion carries. Judy Flores, Wendi Hess, Cara Sorrells, and Eric
Nevins are re-elected to their current offices.
Wendi Hess, Vice-President – Woodbury County,
thanked everyone for their concern and thoughtful gestures during the loss of
Telecommunicator Jeff Feldick, Woodbury County.
Cara Sorrells, Secretary - Washington County,
thanked the sponsors who contributed give-aways to
the conference – PowerPhone,
Iowa Telecom, and APCO Int’l.
President Judy Flores recognized those members and attendees in the audience
who were retiring from the field of communications. She then held a moment of
silence for those APCO members and friends we have lost this year.
Motion was made to adjourn at
9:34 a.m. by Lora Phillips, Johnson
County, and was seconded
by Terry Nixon, Davenport PD. Meeting was adjourned.
Cara L. Sorrells, Iowa APCO Secretary
Interest was expressed by the
following for committees.
Loretta Welcher,
Delaware County, - Public Education
Andy Buffington, Hancock County, - Public Education
Mary D. Miller, Iowa County,
- Training Board
Joel Larue, Winnebago County,
- Newsletter