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Chief reports COVID impacts, nearly $70,000 in support funds; IT, station and VECC upgrades advance
Summary
Chief Douglas Chappell reported reduced transports during COVID‑19, nearly $70,000 in federal support funds received to date, inter‑district cooperation with Green Valley, plans for Station 401 design and a move toward ImageTrend RMS and VECC CAD transitions. The board was briefed but took no new policy votes on these items.
At the Drexel Heights Fire District board meeting on May 22, Chief Douglas Chappell gave the monthly report and detailed the district’s operational response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, cooperative staffing and organizational changes with neighboring Green Valley Fire District, and a series of technology and capital projects under way.
Chappell said the district has seen a marked reduction in patient transports and that federal support programs provided relief: "The District has received nearly $70,000 in support funding to date," he told the board. He added that six employees met home‑confinement criteria during the pandemic and that five have returned to work; one remained nearly ready to return at the time of the report. Offices and stations remain closed to the public and staff rotations are being used to support social distancing.
On administration, Chappell described a reorganization of operations into four divisions — Training & Education, Emergency Response, Logistics and Community Risk — being coordinated with Green Valley Fire District. Deputy Chief William Rowe is scheduled to relocate to an office at the Prince Administration Center to oversee combined training staffs, and Lt. Pratt (Green Valley) will handle volunteer coordination and public information functions.
Capital planning updates included completion of the move into the Prince Administration Center (punch‑list work remains) and a preliminary design package from WSM Architects for Fire Station 401 now being priced by CORE. Chappell said the proposed solar project is on hold because the contractor missed deadlines and a final financing package for multiple stations has not been presented.
On technology and records, Chiefs Crouse and Chappell said they are evaluating a shift from the ZOLL records-management/ePCR platform to ImageTrend to align with state adoption and ambulance-billing preferences; the district is also coordinating with the Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) on a new Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) system that will require replacement of mobile data computers. The district filed a supplemental Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG S) to seek reimbursement for personal protective equipment and has initiated a FEMA Public Assistance application for COVID‑related overtime; the AFG S application was filed before the May 15 deadline.
Chappell summarized April 2020 operational statistics: 425 rescue/EMS responses (average response 6 minutes, 29 seconds), 19 fire-related calls (average response 6 minutes, 41 seconds) and total reported property/content loss of $18,000. Mutual aid activity and calls dispatched for partner agencies were included in the report.
No formal board action was required on these operational and planning items during the meeting; several items were flagged for future agenda consideration, including the Station 401 construction contract and additional VECC subscriber agreements.
Quotes and context "We have received nearly $70,000 in support funding to date," Chief Chappell said, citing federal programs that offset revenue declines tied to reduced transports. He described cooperative staffing and shared services as a likely path for many districts to sustain operations.
Next steps Staff will continue budget work ahead of the June public hearing, finalize Station 401 pricing, pursue ImageTrend and VECC coordination as feasible, and return with contracts and purchase approvals for board consideration as appropriate.
