[PAGE 1] Capital Improvement Plan Subcommittee 4166 Hubertus Road – Station No. 1 June 23, 2025 1. Call to order/determination of quorum Village President John Jeffords called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Present: Village President John Jeffords, Trustee Dan Neu, Members Don Schmitt and Dan Naze. Excused Absent: None Also in attendance were Trustee Jack Lietzau, Village Administrator Jim Healy, Chief Greg West, Deputy Chief Rich Storms, and Lieutenant Charles Porter. Village President Jeffords stated: “Please let the minutes reflect that a quorum of the Village Board is present and that the Village Board members may be making comments under the Public Comments Section of the agenda, during any public hearings, or if the rules are suspended to allow them to do so.” 2. Verification of Open Meetings Law compliance Village Administrator Healy stated that the agendas were posted at the Richfield, Hubertus, and Colgate U.S. Post Offices as well as at Village Hall. Agendas were also sent via email to media outlets which included; the West Bend Daily News, the Germantown Express, the Hartford Times Press, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS a. Discussion and possible recommendation to the Village Board regarding the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan Village President Jeffords introduced the topic of the Richfield Fire Department Capital Improvement Plan. Since this is our first year planning for the replacement and purchase of future capital assets, it was stated that we desired to have the meeting at Station No. 1 so that we could walk through the garage bays and see the equipment up-close. At this time, members in attendance toured the garage bay of Station No. 1 and received information from Chief West and other RFD Staff regarding the utility features of each vehicle and they were able to inspect the overall condition of the same. Chief West discussed the community’s “ISO Rating” which at a “5” is the best rate our community can have without having municipal sewer and water. The rating is tied, in part, to the volume of water we are able to shuttle in the event of an emergency. It was stated that our tenders are capable of carrying 3,000 gallons of water and our fire engines can carry 1,000 gallons. Members of the Subcommittee questioned what would occur if our rate ever dropped to a “6”. In 2024, the Village had an “ISO Audit” and that they’ve worked hard to maintain their rating. [PAGE 2] Capital Improvement Plan Subcommittee 4166 Hubertus Road – Station No. 1 June 23, 2025 It was further explained that this would be determined by a carrier on a case-by-case basis and the only way to know for certain would be to speak with the different carriers who provide home owner insurance in the State of Wisconsin. The ISO study is posted on the Departmental page for the RFD for anyone who is interested to read it. The Subcommittee agreed with Chief West’s recommendation regarding the 30-year lifespan of fire engines where it spends 10-years as a ‘front line’ service, 10-years as ‘back-up’, and 10-years as a ‘reserve’. The Subcommittee discussed and agreed that the RFD would maintain two (2) ambulances, rather than keeping a third, and these vehicles would be replaced every eight (8) years while keeping them for a total of 16-years. Given the increasing cost of vehicles and equipment, it was discussed whether the Village could purchase a chassis first when the cash was on-hand and build the ‘box’ for the ambulance later, similar to how we handle the purchase of snow plows. It was the opinion of Chief West and Lt. Porter that most vendors crash test and engineer a specific chassis and box together and they would likely not entertain an a-la- carte purchase because the safety testing standards are so rigid. Members of the Committee, including Member Donald Schmitt and President Jeffords discussed the potential of selling Rescue 1942 in favor of purchasing a trailer. This ‘heavy rescue’ vehicle is used by the Hazmat Team, Dive Team, and providing recovery to firefighters. It is a seldom used piece of equipment and as a result President Jeffords suggested, it is his opinion that it should not be replaced and potentially sold. Members of the Committee stated that in addition to a trailer ($10,000), shelving and interior improvements ($10,000) and potentially a truck to pull it ($60,000) it may be worth continuing the keep the Rescue 1942 until such time as it is no longer a serviceable vehicle in our fleet. It was surmised by Trustee Neu that the amount we would receive selling the vehicle now versus several years from now would not change in any real tangible manner and should be kept. The Committee then discussed the need for improvement with tracking vehicle and equipment cost not only for materials, but also labor time because of the opportunity cost. Member Naze suggested if our Shop Foreman/Mechanic is doing this work as a priority, then other pieces of equipment are not being worked on that may require the same type of attention. Administrator Healy stated that we’ve begun the process of internally tracking equipment and vehicle costs for new RFD equipment as we do for all Village vehicles and equipment so that we can make an informed decision regarding future replacements and timing thereof. Chief West commended the Richfield Volunteer Fire Company for their fiscal responsibility and dedication to saving for equipment and vehicles to pay for in cash rather than issuing debt service. Chief West stated that based on his calculations we should be saving approximately $234,000-$235,000 per year. It was agreed upon that we would attempt to the greatest extent possible to maintain that funding level knowing that costs continue to rise. Member Dan Naze questioned the need for replacement of PPE and why it was included in the CIP. Chief West stated that the cost of turnout gear is approximately $4,500 per employee and that there are NFPA standards for how long they can be kept in-service. Village President Jeffords asked the question regarding the procedure for when a vehicle leaves the garage bay. Chief West described the process. President Jeffords requested information regarding the air exchange system installed during the building’s construction. Chief West stressed the difference between an air exchange system and a total capture system. It was stated that this topic would be re-addressed the next time our the Subcommittee met. [PAGE 3] Capital Improvement Plan Subcommittee 4166 Hubertus Road – Station No. 1 June 23, 2025 5. Adjournment Motion by Trustee Dan Neu to adjourn at 7:53PM; Seconded by Member Dan Naze; Motion passed without objection. Respectfully Submitted, Jim Healy Village Administrator