HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.12.25 Board of Fire Commissioners Minutes
Please contact Board Secretary, Jules Overfelt, if you cannot attend the meeting or need accommodations at
517-483-4564 or jules.overfelt@lansingmi.gov
CITY OF LANSING | FIRE DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
120 E. SHIAWASSEE ST. | LANSING MI 48933
517-483-4200
LANSINGMI.GOV/FIRE
1. Call to Order – Establish Quorum
1.1. Present: Barbara Lawrence, Jerrod LaRue,
Gina Nelson, Steve Purchase, Jon Scott,
Charles Willis
1.2. Absent: Krishna Singh
2. Additions to Agenda
3. Approval of Minutes
3.1. January 8th, 2025, approved as written
4. Public Comment – Agenda Items (time limit: 3 minutes)
5. Review Communications
6. Comments from Chair
6.1. Attended Councilmember Hussain’s February meeting. There were about 40
people there with great engagement from the public. Some discussion on LFD
matters included: impact of Station 2 closure, burn permits, and why so many rigs
show up at a call. Presentation focused on the annual report, strategic plan, policy
review, investments in equipment/apparatus, the new public safety campus, and
growing personnel to support the needs of the community. This was similar to the
meeting the Board held with the Mayor, which also went well.
6.1.1. Chief Sturdivant cautioned against too much redundant messaging for
increased personnel, in response to Chair Purchase’s stance that repeated
messaging can ensure things remain topical. Chair Purchase suggests moving
the conversation to the public, rather than just City Hall.
6.1.2. The Board and Chief Sturdivant have discussion on the culture of the budget
in Lansing, the volume of calls, and mutual aid agreements that may impact
the call volume. They speak on the difficulties of “overcome and adapt” which
can lead to excuses to continue to underfund the department.
6.2. Chair comments on the Awards Ceremony on January 10th.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH | 5:30 PM |
STATION EIGHT |815 MARSHAL ST | LANSING MI
Fire Commissioners
1st Ward Barbara Lawrence, Vice Chair
2nd Ward Jerrod LaRue
3rd Ward Vacant
4th Ward Gina Nelson
At Large Steve Purchase, Chair
At Large Jon Scott
At Large Charles Willis
At Large Krishna Singh
Please contact Board Secretary, Jules Overfelt, if you cannot attend the meeting or need accommodations at
517-483-4564 or jules.overfelt@lansingmi.gov
7. Presentations
7.1. Commissioner Singh on Aquatic Threats TABLED for next meeting
8. Fire Administration Report – Chief Sturdivant
8.1. LFD and HR was able to accelerate the hiring process from 6 months to 4 months.
LFD hired 22 bodies in the recruit academy, with additional paramedic and EMTs.
15 of the 22 are funded through the FEMA SAFER Grant. There are additional 5
paramedics firefighters being interviewed next week. There have been a few
resignations but it is best for them to resign early in the program. One cadet was
hired.
8.2. There was a cheating incident in the paramedic program – that individual was
expelled from the program and let go from the department.
8.3. Station 2 will be ready for move in November or December. New Station 9 should
be open in early spring 2026.
8.4. There will be a new location for the 4th of July fireworks for increased public safety.
9. Old Business
10. New Business
10.1. Approved Proposed Budget
10.1.1. Budget request (see packet) includes request for 6 additional FTE and a
community risk assessment. There is some discussion on the equipment
requests, and health initiatives.
10.1.2. Chair Purchase reads draft for budget, draft is approved.
10.2. COL Email for Fire Board TABLED for next meeting
10.3. Lexipol Policies 601-603
10.3.1. Approved with some discussion.
11. Requests for Commissioners to be Excused
11.1. Commissioner Singh is excused
12. Commissioner Comments
12.1. Jon Scott introduces themselves as the newest board member. They were on
a public service board previously and are originally from Detroit, although they
have been in Lansing four years.
13. Public Comment (on any matter – speakers must state their name and address; time limit 3 minutes)
14. General Order
15. Adjournment – 7:01pm