The May 19th regular meeting of the South Blanco County ESD #2 began with a clarification to last month’s minutes. It was declared that all Fire Department funds kept in Blanco National Bank are tax dollars and that all funds in Cattleman’s (Lone Star) Bank are donation monies or revenue from fundraisers.
During the Treasurer’s Report, ESD Board President Ann Hall told attendees that the ESD had received a clean audit as done by Neffendorf, Knopp, Doss and Co. and gave a short overview. It was moved and approved to accept the audit. Treasurer Mary Ann Millard reported that after looking into CD options at other banks, she thought it would be better to stay with Blanco National Bank, but to look into their options again in September. She also reported a current total balance of $389,792.21. Finally, it was decided that it was time for the ESD to purchase a laptop computer with Office and Quickbooks for sole use by the ESD. The computer had already been budgeted for and approved to purchase.
EMS Director Mike West reported 76 calls for the month, including 17 walk-ups and 9 mutual aid calls, with an average response time of 6.79 minutes. As the budgets for EMS and VFD are due June 1st, West gave the ESD a look at some of the EMS’s expanded budget categories, “Ya’ll sent out a list last month, of how you wanted items broken down a little more, and I agree with that. This is simply a description of every account listing for Blanco EMS.” He asked the Board to let him know if they had more suggestions, and told the board he would be breaking down a few more line items, like payroll, before the Budget would be finished.
Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ron Sallman reported a total of 12 calls for the month, which included 2 EMS assists and 2 calls cancelled en route. Average response time was 10 minutes 42 seconds. He also reported that all 9 sets of bunker gear had arrived, as well as 9 sets of wildland gear. They also received a new training library and a new laptop, items that were funded with grants. The new extrication equipment, purchased partially with Fish Fry money and the cost supplemented with taxpayer dollars, has also arrived and been installed.
Fire Department Board President Harvey Lindeman reported that the Board had gained two new members and filled the Treasurer and Secretary Position with Jim Harris and Sally Windham respectively. ESD Treasurer Mary Ann Millard and President Ann Hall requested from the Fire Department Board clearer and more precise accounting reports during the monthly meetings. Specifically requested were accounting documents including Purchase Orders, Invoices, and receipts for large purchases, and a report of checks written. Lindeman replied that he would “take care of it.”
Dar Labarthe gave an update on the Strategic Plan. He explained that he had found a volunteer who will be working with him during the summer to “help develop a proposed action plan and time related targets that will be available for discussion by all parties by the end of the summer.” The volunteer is a Blanco resident and student at St. George University. The volunteer’s work will be part of a project for his academic program. As part of the Strategic Plan update, Fire Chief Ron Sallman spoke on a few items related to bettering Blanco’s ISO rating, including that the Fire Department now had access to a water tank in Rockin J, in order to better serve customers in that development. The Fire Department Chief and Board Members also reported that an “initial plan” had been developed for VFD to become a First Responder Unit.
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