Marion Fire District
P.O. Box 939, 180 Gopher Lane, Marion, MT 59925
Phone: (406) 854-2828 / Fax: (406) 854-9330
Website: www.marionfd.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES – Minutes
Board of trustees in attendance: Brian Dodge, Aaron Jones, Betty Heino, Sarah Reide (Remotely)
Other guests in attendance: Chief Jason Hill, Captain Neil Heino, Sue Dexter
Community members in attendance: Trevor Roesch, Mark Young, Luke Hindoien, Chris Hindoien, Kevin
Lindsted, Heidi Hill, Bob & Wendy Blankenship, Emily Eagan, Don Harkins, Lily Brower
DATE: January 29, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: Marion Fire District Community Center at 180 Gopher Lane, Marion, MT
PLEDGE
PUBLIC COMMENT
(Matters under the jurisdiction of the Marion Fire District Board of Trustees that are not on the agenda may
be addressed by the public at this time. However, the Board is generally prohibited from taking action on
matters until the public has been provided sufficient notice.)
1. Chris Hindoien – Rocky Mountain Insurance Services, Marketing Coordinator
o Offering to assist department in reviewing property and casualty insurance policies; they
would need toll numbers, toll number calls, VFN, apparatus calls, etc.
o Provided business cards with below contact information:
Office: (406) 466-2102
Cell: (406) 590-3031
chrish@rmismt.com
o Luke Hindoien – Agent that will be assisting with issuing of policies
Office: (406) 466-2102
Cell: (406) 461-0679
lukeh@rmismt.com
2. Lily Brower: Thank you to trustees for dinner.
AGENDA
I. Roll Call and Establishment of Quorum was completed by Chairman Aaron Jones
II. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Aaron Jones
III. Consent to Agenda
a. Brian Dodge: Motion to consent to agenda
i. Betty Heino seconded
ii. Motion passed
IV. Approve previous board minutes (11/20/2025)
a. Betty Heino: Motion to approve November and December minutes
i. Brian Dodge seconded
ii. Motion passed
V. Reports
a. Treasurer reports – Sue Dexter (see attached report)
i. Tracking events:
1. Community outreach income vs community outreach expense?
ii. Pintler report
1. Receipts from Pintler doesn’t separate out new transports?
a. Decipher what we’re receiving from transport income versus expenses?
iii. Stipend checks clarification – year prior (notation on checks for year)
1. *Chief Jason working on bylaw section
2. Sarah Reide: Prorated option for someone who hasn’t been here a full year?
3. Chief Jason: Developing a system to track length of time served.
iv. $6300 snowplow: title & insurance, operational
1. Balance in capital is $106,000
2. Capital assets vehicles?
3. Hold off on transferring funds?
a. Betty Heino: Suggest before year end transfer funds into line item.
4. Moving money is tabled until further review (no motion)
b. Fire Chief report & updates – Chief Jason Hill (see attached report)
i. EMT class is finished
ii. New officers promoted
1. Sarah Reide: Were there interviews conducted of candidates?
2. Chief Jason: Interviews are voluntary
3. Sarah Reide: Clarification – there is no formal interview?
4. Chief Jason: The interviews more along the lines of asking candidates, “Are you
willing and do you want to?”
iii. Officer training
iv. Fire Academy in March 6th
v. General cleanup and prep for winter
vi. Shop + vehicle maintenance updates
vii. Bitterroot water source updates
viii. Boisvert’s water source updates
1. Passed final testing today, grass seed planted in spring, new locking system in
order
ix. New plow truck – can be used as second command or emergency vehicle
x. Community events
1. Easter pancake breakfast and egg hunt on April 4th
xi. Brian Dodge: Ready, Set, Go Program email
1. Wildland fire mitigation fuel reduction
c. EMS report – Captain Neil Heino
i. Completion of EMT class
ii. State certification on all ambulances, equipment checks passed for another 2 years
II. Action Items
a. Policy numbering format adjustment review
i. Amendments or sub policies more easily added
b. Review/update Pay schedule
i. Final format
ii. Highlighted portion needs approved today
iii. Brian Dodge: Longevity credit is not identified? 2% each year?
iv. Chief Jason: Based fire department off of corporate world standard, 2% each year on
top of performance review; base pay is fixed by board at $16 for firefighter/EMT
1. Year 1: longevity + performance review
v. Chief Jason: Asking for approval for format for calculating increases
1. See chart for calculation examples
vi. Sarah Reide: Do we budget for these increases?
vii. Chief Jason: When we figure out the pay budget each year, we factor in at least 10%
increase on payroll budget so we can allow for raises or if we get an increase in calls to
hire someone else.
1. Average pay raise is approximately 3%
2. This year is averaging less than 3% raise
viii. Brian Dodge made motion to accept highlighted portion of policy FM-01-001
1. Betty Heino seconded the motion
2. Motion passed
c. Review/approve ambulance and MVA rates
i. Chart B – charges can be adjusted at later date if board approves rest of chart
1. Description of what charges are has been updated
ii. Betty Heino: Motion to approve the rewording on the billing policy
1. Brian Dodge seconded the motion
2. Motion passed
d. Review/approve Public Information Officer job description
i. Sue Dexter: Will there be a contract with board and position? Done through payroll?
1099?
1. Contract for services with fire department?
ii. Betty Heino: Not sure how much authority should be written in job description, if PIO
isn’t monitored or isn’t reviewed, there is high risk.
iii. Public comment (Mark Young): 1099 vs employed is very different (directing versus
reporting is different for employees versus an independent contractor). PIO can run
things past the chief.
iv. Betty Heino: Should we seek legal advice?
v. Brian Dodge: Run the 1099 conversation by the county to see their stance.
vi. Betty Heino: Motion to table PIO discussion until February meeting
1. Sarah Reide seconded
2. Motion passed
e. Bylaw review/update
i. Betty Heino is working on it: Conducting research as current bylaws are generic, trying
to figure out what needs to be changed to protect us better.
1. Plan to have a few amendments to articles changed by next meeting rather than
the whole thing, as it is more realistic.
ii. Brian Dodge: Motion to table bylaw review
1. Betty Heino seconded
2. Motion passed
f. Updates on firearm policy
i. Chief Jason: Still exploring training options
ii. Brian Dodge: Motion to table firearm policy review until next meeting
1. Betty Heino seconded
2. Motion passed
III. Additional discussion items:
a. Update on gear stipend distribution changes – Chief Jason will have by next meeting
b. Refill station + generator power options
i. Discussion on appropriate action to take to ensure station is able to provide refill +
power
1. Potentially be replacing generator – add to budget down the road
ii. Brian Dodge: Recommend getting estimate for replacing and upgrading
c. Boisvert’s: $19,500
IV. New business:
a. EMS education
i. Kevin:
1. Increase budget from $8,000 to $20,000
a. EMR, EMT, EMS education budget
b. Allow us to train a paramedic
c. Estimated amounts
i. $14,000 charge for class
ii. $11,000 reimbursement back to department
2. 24-hour full-time ALS service
ii. Prepare stipend to person to go through course and stick with department
1. Focus on volunteers and annual budget for paid staƯ
iii. OƯer stipend to cover cost of course that county doesn’t
iv. Discussion on requirements of providing this opportunity:
1. Requiring contracted time with department
2. Sponsoring person one per year – paying per year
3. Department will only pay for the first
v. Board recommends developing a VERY clear policy that outlines specifics
1. Betty Heino: Develop monthly presentation with process and how the people
are chosen
vi. Aaron Jones: For the contract portion – recommend running by county attorney prior to
presenting.
vii. Tabled until February meeting (no motion)
b. Sarah Reide: Updates on open/part-time position?
i. Chief Jason: No applications yet, will proceed with posting on Facebook and county
site
c. Betty Heino: Comment to community – we need another board member, spread the word.
V. Announcements:
a. Next meeting: February 26th @ 6:30pm
VI. Adjournment – Time 8:03 pm
a. Brian Dodge: Motion to adjourn
i. Betty Heino seconded
ii. Motion passed