8 in attendance… Meeting started 7:01pm
Interim Fire Chief Joe Hardy is in attendance for giving an update and presentation on the fire brigade’s operations.
Joe Hardy was born in Lawrence and went to Haskell, been in Lawrence his whole life, has family in North Lawrence, East Lawrence, and West Lawrence. Talked about getting involved in the community and just recently got designated as the acting Fire Chief of the fire department. Currently deciding within a span of 48 days on a decision on the position.
Currently handling a lot of work and adjustment to the position. Has a few topics to discuss, he attended the February 4th meeting for the city commission. He noticed attention to the North Lawrence Improvement Corridor plan. With the call volume going up at the fire department, 80% of the calls are ambulance calls. The new hires are required to go to paramedic school so that the weight of the work is spread out.
North Lawrence had a recent smoke alarm blitz in October of 2024 where there were installations throughout North Lawrence where 65 smoke detectors were installed.
Response came up when it came to servicing Lawrence as a fire department. Joe mentioned the trucks being stationed over in North Lawrence to improve response times.
Joe mentioned the Elm Street fire where a building suffered a pretty massive fire and rescued multiple pets contained within the building. The pets were able to be saved with oxygen. New recruits were able to tend and help resolve the fire issues.
A resident asked about a cause for the fire on Elm Street. Fire chief did not have a current answer but would get back on it.
A resident asked about getting a fire station in North Lawrence. Joe spoke upon response times, saying that right now there has been mapping but no definitive answer on a fire station in North Lawrence.
Ted spoke about the issue of not having a fire station in North Lawrence and the issue of fire response. Imperative about the fact that the bridge causes major issues with response times.
Ted mentions that since Joe Hardy is home grown that he knows the lay of the land and the familiarity of Lawrence, Kansas. Ted wants Joe Hardy to become the permanent fire chief.
Joe mentioned the overall goal to cut the false alarms down on the response calls for Lawrence due to the staff shortages. Hopefully look at data for records on how to address false alarm issues.
A resident asked about checking out the fire department in order to have somewhat of a field trip for his kid. Joe answered with the hours of the station.
Another resident mentioned calling Station #5 to be able to visit the station.
Joe Hardy mentioned going online to schedule visiting the fire station.
Joe Hardy mentioned the real strain of having three person fire teams and not four person fire teams.
Ted read a letter from Woodlawn Elementary thanking the NLIA for the generous holiday donations.
The NLIA gave out 20 $50 visa cards to struggling families around North Lawrence and gave hygiene, diapers, and wipes for families around North Lawrence.
Ted talked about receiving bicycles for families in North Lawrence and their kids so that they are able to get bicycles.
Ted mentioned the North Lawrence Corridor plan and that the city needs to implement storm water improvement in order to be able to have any development.
Ted mentioned the solar project and its current initiative to get completed despite the numerous concerns of flooding and the issues of putting their retention ponds on top of ground water that is very close to the surface.
Ted mentioned the current plans to build Boston Crossing in South Lawrence for progress and the issues with potential flooding as well.
Amendment: A resident hoped to communicate the flood risk problems with “New Boston Crossing” are similar to the solar farm plan. Floodplains are not places to fill & build due to flood risk and loss of FEMA insurance discount. Both projects are poor planning and counter to “DOCo” [sic] plan 2040.
Ted mentioned the current work in implementing a pedestrian overpass for 4th Street pedestrian crossing for the railroad tracks. The principal at Woodlawn mentioned the need for implementing an overpass crossing for the pedestrian crossing for the railroad tracks.
Ted says that with the current plan to put the railroad improvements in the corridor plan is not the proper way to implement these improvements and it needs to be separated from the current plan due to needed priority implementation on the plan.
A resident asked for more vocal and more work to be done by the NLIA to vouch for initiatives for the NLIA, Ted asked for residents to step up and take initiative along with the work of the NLIA because that is the missing link.
Meeting adjourned…8:48pm
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