OFFICIAL MINUTES
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING OF THE ELOY FIRE DISTRICT BOARD
June 22, 2020
- Call to order and confirmation of quorum. A special meeting and public hearing of the Board was called to order by Board Chairman Belinda Akes at the Eloy Fire District Administration office, located at 4010 N. Toltec Road, Eloy, Arizona at 1800 hours on Monday, June 22, 2020. A quorum was confirmed with four (4) members present: Tom Cortez, Edward Sauceda, Toni Lorona Carlson, and Belinda Akes. Board members Tom Cortez, Toni Lorona Carlson, and Edward Sauceda attended the meeting via remote access.
- Pledge of allegiance. Board Chair Belinda Akes led the pledge of allegiance.
- Call to the Public: None.
- Consent Agenda:
- A. Minutes of the district meeting on June 8, 2020.
- B. Financial Statements. None
- C. Approval of Warrants. None
- The board members reviewed the minutes. MOTION made by Toni Lorona Carlson to approve the minutes of June 8, 2020. SECONDED by Edward Sauceda. MOTION PASSED (4 Ayes: Akes, Cortez, Lorona Carlson, Sauceda; 0 Nays).
- Executive Session
- None.
- Business
- Public Hearing. Public Hearing on the fiscal year 2020-21 budget. All persons interested in the budget are invited to attend and participate. No members of the public commented or remarked on the budget.
- A. Review, discussion and possible action on adopting the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget and setting the tax rate/levy for fiscal year 2020-21. There were no changes from the previous presentations on the budget items. MOTION made by Edward Sauceda to adopt the 2020-21 budget with a tax levy of $2,611,534, with an ESTIMATED tax rate of 2.3742. SECONDED by Toni Lorona Carlson. MOTION PASSED (4 Ayes: Akes, Lorona Carlson, Cortez, and Sauceda; 0 Nays).
- B. Review, discussion and possible action on approval of funding policy for PSPRS. Chief Weddle explained the requirements of the annual funding policy, and the current status of the plan. He added that his top financial concern for the district is the funding stability of the PSPRS retirement plan. An additional contribution will aid in controlling future contribution rates, as well as help meet the goal to become fully funded. MOTION made by Edward Sauceda to approve the policy and to make an additional contribution to PSPRS of $350,000.00 for unfunded liabilities this fiscal year, and review again next year. SECONDED by Toni Lorona Carlson. MOTION PASSED (4 Ayes: Akes, Lorona Carlson, Cortez, and Sauceda: 0 Nays).
- C. Review, discussion and possible action on approval of engagement letter with Benavidez Law Group P.C. The board reviewed the engagement letter, and Chief Weddle said that the law firm comes highly recommended and they have experience with fire districts. MOTION made by Edward Sauceda to approve the engagement letter with Benavidez Law Group. SECONDED by Toni Lorona Carlson. MOTION PASSED (4 Ayes: Akes, Lorona Carlson, Cortez, and Sauceda: 0 Nays).
- Reports and Correspondence
- A. Division Chief Report. None.
- B. Fire Chief Report. None.
- Future Agenda Items: The following items will be on a future agenda:
- -HR policy manual update. Chief Weddle described the work done on updating the HR policy manual, and that it would be coming to the board for approval in August or September.
- Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned by Board Chairman Belinda Akes at 1817 hours.