Alright, well, good morning.

It's 9 33.

Uh we'll get started.

My name is Andrew Merkley.

I'm the director of the Office of Public Health and Safety.

Welcome to the March 4th, 2026 meeting of the Board of Public Health and Safety.

Abby, can you please uh call the roll?

All right, Ingram.

President.

Williams.

Present.

Leave President Webster.

Present.

All right, we have four.

Great.

Thank you.

Has everyone had an opportunity to review the minutes from last from the last meeting?

Any uh discussion changes that need to be made.

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the minutes from last from the last meeting.

So we have a second.

Second.

Motion has been moved and seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Hearing none, the motion passes.

Okay.

We'll get started with the first item 030426A, which is MES service company LLC.

Indianapolis Fire Department.

Good morning, Lauren.

Good morning.

My name is Kennedy.

I'm at the Indianapolis Fire Department.

I'm the purchasing manager.

And I brought our uh chief of our air management, Corey Jones.

That's what I call them.

So uh we are asking the board to um approve a con a um us the purchase equipment from a cooperative agreement through Sourcewell through MES uh for SCBA equipment.

Um Corey can go more into what that equipment is used for.

So good morning once again, everybody.

Um V is currently um outfitted with Briam Scott X3 Pro SCBA Snapchange.

Um this piece of equipment here is designed with uh intrinsic safety um in order to prevent electrical components from igniting in hazardous um environments.

Um our SBA has four different components.

We have our mask here, which everybody wears when it's on their face, which we test annually, all firefighters tested this annually for a perfect fit in their mask when they go into hazardous materials.

I mean hazardous environments.

Next is our regulator here.

This is what actually delivers the air from the cylinder into the mask, and it creates positive pressure inside the mask, which prevents if the seal is broke in the mask, the positive pressure keeps the toxin air out of the mask.

The component is the cylinder.

We have a 5500 psi cylinder, um, which provides a little bit longer work time in those environments when we're inside.

Um this cylinder here is a snap change, if you guys can see here at the bottom.

And the snap change is for an easy change on the fire ground.

Where we're on the fire ground.

If we want to change the bottles, we just snap it out, put another bottle, and you go back into your work environment.

Um the pack itself here, this is pretty much what we are paying for here as far as the pack.

Um this pack right here has two pressure redundant um reducers.

So this right here, which we call the pressure reducer, reduces this air down to enough to it gets to about 135 PSI when it gets to the cylinder, and about time you take your breath in there to activate that, it's less than one percent.

I mean less than one PSI, probably about 0.036 in your mask, and that's what produces the positive pressure of the air package.

So with that, all four components with the intrinsic safety on there that meets all NFPA and NIASH guidelines.

Thank you.

Questions?

Well, it's what they call um it's a it's a redundant pressure reducer.

So it's a backup.

So the primary is when you first take your breath, you breathe this pack down to about one-third.

Once you get to one third of 5500 PSI, the viber alarm goes off, and that lets you know you have one third left of that cylinder to egress to get out of that environment.

So that's which which is it that you're you're purchasing like for example, you're not purchasing the air tickets, you're seeing that equipment piece, like the part you put on your back.

Yes, so it's the whole it's the whole ensemble.

So you need you need all pieces, if I'm understanding you correctly in order.

This contract's just for the packs themselves, so right, the masks and the bottles are purchased separately in the regular.

So the mask and the bottles are separate.

So if you buy the SEBA pack itself, that comes with that comes with regulator.

Yes.

And 700,000 over two years will allow us to purchase how many of these devices.

Um for that.

So this ensemble, so let's say that we're purchasing just the pack itself.

The pack itself is roughly 11,000 for the pack.

Um the regulator, which you know, we purchase sometimes individually, depending upon the situation.

Um, if we have to replace a regulator that's damaged or does not meet the standards as far as testing standards, then the regulator is about $2,100 a month.

Umce we buy the pack, usually we outfit everybody in the department with a single regulator.

So at that point in time, this cost would go outside of the total purchase of the pack.

So, yes.

We will buy masks and regulators.

Let's say we have a recruit class, we have a recruit class going on right now.

At the beginning of each recruit class, all recruits receive a mask and a regulator.

We already have the pack ready for them to go, which we are repurchased.

But let's say a pack goes down, let's say we have to purchase another pack, then each pack is about 11,000 to purchase per pack.

Now, if we add the cylinder in there, we talk about another $2100 for said cylinder.

How often you have to replace the packs?

Our packs right here.

We we have we have not replaced um our packs.

Um as far as outside of just repairing the packs.

I mean the packs NFPA recommends every 15 years, you know, for the replacement of the pack.

Um, but depending upon the use that we have, I mean, that could be less, you know, than the 15 years, depending upon where the pack is located, depending upon how you know how much action, if you will, the pack has received within that lifetime.

Any additional questions?

Discussion.

Still kind of didn't get my question answered.

How many of these do?

So we got 700,000 over two years.

That's $350,000 a year.

How many people can be outfitted with $350,000 in one year with this with this equipment for this contract?

For this contract.

Uh if I'm not mistaken, I think what what this contract buys is simply the packs, right?

The bottles, the the masks and the and the regulators are are purchased separately.

You need the fewest packs, you need probably next most, you need bottles, and then the most you need face pieces and regulators, so they don't come as one.

I'm I'm clear on that.

I'm just want to get to a $350,000 gets us how many pieces of equipment or I'm sorry.

Correct.

So with that, um, if we're just buying the pack itself, um, you know, that would be you know, based upon which packs go down, which packs that we need.

So this is a as needed, like you're not gonna do that.

This is the this is a as needed as we're going forward.

We don't know what that would be.

But you do know that you have a recruit class or drop down.

We have a recruit class.

And how many is in that recruit class?

Uh we have about 65, 67 within there.

You know, will that take up the 700?

No, that would not take up the 700.

With that, that's roughly 179,000 as of now.

That price can be different next year.

Thank you.

You know, as you go up.

Two years would probably cover most of that cost.

The rest of it is we don't we don't know going forward.

That's all the 700 is more of like the actual cushion.

It's a cushion.

Because I'm also gonna say I'm assuming next year, if you're taking a recruit class this year, you're probably not gonna take one next year.

We have one next year as well, too.

But then that it would also open up the next cat amount, I guess, so then you would still uh and uh I would assume over the course of any given year, sometimes a pack becomes unrepairable or has to be replaced.

Sure.

The merger.

The merger the wine merger.

The merger we are um as far as the Wayne Township merger is coming on, we will be um on boarding more equipment, um more um patch that we need to repair.

Um that will cover that as well, too.

If set pack goes down as of now, I mean if the merger happens, we don't know what the condition of air packs are, their equipment is going forward.

We we just we just don't know that that part of it.

So that makes perfect sense.

Thank you for that.

All right, any further discussion?

Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adopt 030426A.

So moved item has been moved and seconded.

All in favor?

Aye, all right.

Any opposed?

Hearing none of the processes.

Thank you both.

Thank you.

All right, next item on the agenda 030426B.

I'm staying up here for some right.

Right.

Oh, here we go.

Thank you, Corey.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Morning.

Morning.

Um morning again.

Um, I have our chief of logistics, Mike Tiern in here to discuss our um purchasing of a chiller um at IFD headquarters uh through the again through the Source Well agreement with Johnson Controls and Incorporate it.

Um sorry no, no, no, I don't know.

Go ahead.

Okay, so basically, when IFD changed headquarters uh to its current location at 955 Fort Wayne Avenue, um it was the old uh Red Cross building, and people who are a lot smarter than I am in the HVAC systems explained to me this way it's set up in a dual zone.

One of the zones was updated, one of the zones is antiquated.

Uh the antiquated and they run off of a computer system, and they explained it to me like the antiquated system is like run off like a MS DOS-based, and the updated one is like a Windows 13.

So the issue is they only the people that service our HVAC system have one computer that hasn't been upgraded through the Windows Upgrade Systems that is able to talk to the control system to help regulate the HVAC system.

So what we're asking is to kind of bring up our HVAC system to current standards because over the past since I've been in my position, we've had Johnson controls come out there and service it frequently.

We're putting band-aids on an issue, uh, and no one wants to work in in Indianapolis in the summer without air conditioning.

So that's basically where we're at now is we're just kicking the can down the road, and until we really address the situation of upgrading our HVAC system, um we're at the mercy of uh when when not if the equipment fails.

Any questions?

Questions is this chiller the band aid or the stop and other kicking?

This is this is uh bringing uh new chiller, um, which to me is an air conditioner, but bringing the the air conditioner up to current standards, as and when I say standards, uh I mean as far as like the operating system, and it also brings the controls up to I'll say like the Windows 11 version instead of the Windows 3 version.

So it's not the right terminology, but that's how my mind can kind of understand exactly what's needed.

I I have two questions.

One, you said, for example, there's it's two sides.

I understand you probably made improvements like before you guys acquired this base.

So one is this um upgrade for the entire buildings, yeah.

Both sides will receive the update.

Correct.

Two, is this a physical equipment upgrade and a computer upgrade?

Like you're upgrading the ventilation systems and the uh obviously the chiller, right?

I understand the physical chillers being required, but I mean are you up to or is it just the chiller and the computer system?

So it's the chiller and the computer systems itself.

So this past year we had our our ductwork cleaned because we anticipated um upgrading the equipment, knowing that well, let's let's get them cleaned.

Maybe that'll help push the airflow a little bit better, get a a little bit more circulation.

Uh again, band-aid but appropriate um for the time.

So this would upgrade the physical air conditioner as well as the electronic controls for both zones.

Okay, thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

For the discussion, seems like a pretty reasonable number for such a substantial fix.

I was actually expecting a higher number.

Yeah, I would have expected much earlier than we did not go with the Cadillac, we went with what's going to work.

So this is more the Chevy Avalanche version.

Uh I would try, you know, we do try and be stewards with uh the people's money, not just all the bells and whistles.

So gets the job done and it's gonna keep everyone happy.

So thank you.

Will this get Harmon to stop complaining?

No, it will absolutely not.

How long will it take to actually install the new system?

I don't have that information, but I can probably ask Dave.

I'm guessing Johnson controls is they're pretty responsive.

They're the ones that have worked on it before.

So once once and if we get approval, um our goal is to get it started before the heat turns on.

Um so I'm gonna say ball part figure, probably three weeks.

I'm guessing.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Okay.

Any further discussion questions?

Hearing none, uh I'll entertain the motion to adopt 030426b.

So move.

Motion has been moved and seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Hearing none, the motion passes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number 030426C is next on the agenda.

Hearing from Indianapolis Fire Department.

Uh so we're we are asking the board to um to approve the uh NTE increase of the fire boots.

Um sorry, fire gear.

Uh we came to the board last January, I believe, um, to get the contracts in place, and I think in December of 2024, we were asked to put an NTE on it.

We came back the second time in 25 to with that NTE, which is 150,000.

Um, according to our quartermaster, um I'm not sure what the number was with the numbers there, but we needed more money than that on our fire contract.

Um, so I have it here that if we're increasing it from 150,000 to 600,000, um, that should be able to get us through um the year the length of the contract.

Any questions?

Discussion?

What is the budget contract?

Um, it expires in 27.

So roughly two million years.

But one more year by increasing it 150 to 600, which is four times the amount.

Have you already exceeded the initial one fifty then?

Yes.

It wasn't, I don't know.

We were we're right at that threshold.

So 150 now?

Correct.

So if we we'll say we doubled it uh for the up until the next, so we're looking at three to four hundred thousand.

We just didn't want to be in the same predicament that we are now, and asking for smaller increases, and then knowing the unknown or the future of any sort of uh consolidation.

Um we wanted to kind of forecast out what an uh anticipatory uh anticipation cost might be if there are any mergers.

So that's that's kind of where we are.

It's not to buy all the sets of gear, it's all the replacement parts which wear out uh much more frequently.

Yeah, I I get the anticipation of the merger.

Just to be clear, so the original almost 150, this is a two-year contract, right?

Correct.

We're already through the first year of the contract, we're still under 150 we're right.

We're at the cusp of it.

Okay.

Yes, yes, ma'am.

And so at this time, you anticipate it spending in the next 365 days, potentially 450,000 on equipment.

What we don't want to do is ask for 300 and then spend 304,000 and get stuck.

So even though we're not going to be able to do that.

Right.

Even though we we don't want to budget, we we don't have 600,000 for our budget.

We're asking for an inflated number so we don't even have to get to that threshold.

And if we stay as we are with the members of IFD, we'll be well within that 600.

And if we increase the membership, we'll still be well within that 600.

So depending upon what happens in the next year, we would definitely be within the 600.

Is it 600 uh feasible budget-wise for IFD?

Understanding next year's budget, obviously has nothing.

Right.

So if if you take into account what we spent uh last year with anticipated cost this year, uh 600 would be a stretch if we had to spend that much, but you know, ultimately, if we get some horrific events and the gear is unsolvable, then we still have to provide the gear.

So this gives us a cushion uh to at least have the contract in place in case that emergency arises.

Yes, personnel are added.

Correct.

Any other questions?

Discussion.

Again, though, this is just as an as needed basis.

So you you haven't sent a contractor this much money.

You'll say, oh, if I need this part, this part, you pay them invoicing it as it goes along.

Yes, but just like the SCPA, yes, ma'am.

Oh okay.

Nothing.

Do I knew okay I'm looking for the pricey, but I found it.

Perfect.

Uh if there's no further discussion, um we'll I'll entertain a motion to adopt 030426C.

So moved.

And a second.

Second.

Motion has been moved and seconded.

All in favor?

Any opposed?

Hearing none, the motion passes.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

That is the aside from signing this document.

That is the last item on our agenda.

Um we are all in agreement.

We can go ahead and pass this around for our signatures, and then we will adjourn after that.

Abby, do you have a this is the weekend to clean up the line from last week to go?

Oh, okay.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, okay.

I was like, actually, that one's a little finicky right now.

So if that one doesn't work, these are well.

Yeah.

We have a lot of time in circulation right now.

So the dying out of means are like I needed a breather, so I was hoping, but okay.

We'll try the other one.

I almost always have a run with me.

Uh oh.

Okay.

Okay.

I'll let you make that correction.

Vice chair?

Vice Chair.

I guess I should read for the record.

Uh to get this on record, this is the resolution from our last meeting approving and authorizing the city of Indianapolis to grant a temporary easement and permanent right-of-way from the parcel of land located at 1715 East Washington Street to the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation doing business as indie go.

Uh and so there were some technical corrections we were making to this resolution.

All right, I corrected that.

Thank you.

Yeah, that's a nice jacket.

Hello.

Right.

You got to guess 600,000.

Sneak six jackets in there.

All right, with all of your signatures, I think uh we we have no other items on the agenda, so we are okay to adjourn.

All right, thank you.

See you next month.