Board Members Present: Reverend Roy Thomas, Archer Frierson, Van Anderson, David McCullough, and Sam Williamson

Board Members Absent: Clarence Babineaux and Fred McClanahan

Others Present: Martha Carter, Judy Rachal, Richard Stewart, Arthur Meacham, Beth Ann Carter, Howard Adkins, Wes Edge (9-1-1 Staff) and Michael Wainwright (Legal Counsel)

Reverend Thomas called the meeting to order and asked that attendance be noted. Reverend Thomas asked the Board to consider a motion to approve the minutes of the Tuesday, January 15, 2008 meeting. Mr. Williamson moved and Mr. McCullough seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted. The motion was unanimously approved.

Reverend Thomas called for the December 31, 2007 compiled financial report. Ms. Carter stated that the District’s monthly financials will be reported on a cash basis and marked as “draft” due to the year-end financials not being closed out probably until March. Ms. Carter explained that by state statute, the service providers can remit revenue payments to the District on a quarterly basis and are required to submit the revenues within 60 days of the close of the quarter. As a result, total revenue for the 2007 budget year will not be received and deposited until March. Ms. Carter stated that during the months of January/February 2008, the District had received $596,121.39 in 2007 accounts receivables, which will be posted as 2007 year end revenue receipts. For the month of December, the District had monthly revenues of $175,161.35 with total monthly expenditures of $172,418.51, which resulted in $2,742.84 in excess revenue over expenditures. The District normally books revenues of $200,000 to $300,000 each month but with the carriers holding their payments until the last minute, the financials do not reflect those revenues currently.

Ms. Carter stated that after meetings with the District’s CPA, Mr. Travis Morehart and the District’s investment representative with Morgan Keegan on January 17th, the District transferred $400,000 out of the District’s checking account, into the Federated account of $1,142,200.75 earning 3%. $750,000 was placed into a FHLB note at 3.50% with a maturity date of 6/20/08 and $700,000 into a FFCB note at 4.785% with a maturity date of 11/07/08. Ms. Carter stated that on June 20th, the FHLB bond will mature with interest earnings of $10,993. The FFBC will mature on 11/07/08 with interest earnings of $17,062.50. At the time of the 6/20/08 maturity, the market will be re-evaluated and all interest earnings and the original investment will be reinvested in a short term investment instrument for maturity prior to 11/15/08, at which time the monies will be transferred into the District’s checking account in anticipation of the 12/1/08 debt service payments. Ms. Carter stated that it is important to note that the District currently has sufficient funds, which are being invested to pay the 12/1/08 debt service payments. Ms. Carter further answered questions from the Board concerning these financial transactions.

Reverend Thomas asked for a status report on the parish-wide mobile data computer system project. Ms. Carter stated that on February 4, 2008 the City of Shreveport executed an agreement with Intergraph for the purchase and installation of the mobile data client software for the project. A kickoff meeting with the Intergraph project team has been scheduled for March 13th to discuss the development of the implementation timelines and identification of the tasks necessary for the project. A joint implementation meeting between Intergraph, the District and Dataradio will also be held that afternoon to discuss the timelines of the mobile data client software portion of the project and the impact of those time lines on the infrastructure portion of the project.

Ms. Carter stated the tower structural analyses have been completed on each of the District’s radio communications sites with the exception of KMSS, and we are awaiting that analysis to be conducted by contractors for KMSS. All of the tower sites passed with the exception of the Wade Correctional of CDC site, which failed because of the more stringent requirements of 75 MPH basic wind speed including ½” radial ice. Dataradio performed another coverage analysis moving the diversity antennas down 60’, which would bring the tower into a satisfactory safety range and determined that moving the antennas downward by 60’ would not reduce coverage to the proposed system.

Ms. Carter stated that during the week of February 4th through 8th, Dataradio and the District staff worked to install the necessary equipment into the channel banks to tie the mobile data infrastructure into the District’s microwave system that will serve as the transport to tie the tower sites together. The pilot test for the infrastructure will then be tested February 14th and 15th. A report on the outcome of the pilot test will be provided at the upcoming Board Meeting.

Ms. Carter reported on February 14th a conference call with Motorola and their legal team was held and a contract was finalized for the 50 ruggedized mobile data units for the Fire Department. Upon receipt from Motorola, the formal contract will be submitted to the City for execution. This will then complete all portions of the 2004 Grant award for the mobile data project.

Ms. Carter stated during the March 13th meeting with Intergraph, due to the lengthy contract negotiation period and holiday delay of the signoff by the City of Shreveport, new timelines for implementation of the software portion would be developed so as not to invoke the liquidation of damages clauses for other vendors such as Dataradio not meeting the previously established timelines. Installation of the hardware in the vehicles will begin first and will be in place awaiting the client software development phase of the project.

Reverend Thomas asked for a status report on the 800 MHz rebanding initiative. Ms. Carter stated that the District had been granted by the FCC, the third requested deadline extension. In January, Motorola submitted their final Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA). Due to the insufficient and incomplete information provided regarding the actual cutover and fallback plans as well as the Acceptance Test Plan, Ms. Carter felt that the District could not submit that proposal to Sprint-Nextel to begin negotiations. Ms. Carter outlined the importance of these tests being conducted on the system. Ms. Carter stated that conference calls had been conducted with Motorola and RCC to discuss all of the changes that needed to be made to the FRA proposal. Ms. Carter reported that on February 13th, Motorola sent revised cutover and fall back plans that were being reviewed.

Reverend Thomas asked for any Old Business. There being none, called for any New Business.

Ms. Carter stated she wanted to follow upon the Board’s question from the January meeting on the ability of the District to assess surcharge fees on voice over internet protocol (VoIP). Ms. Carter reported that on January 23, 2008 a 9-1-1 Directors’ legislative committee meeting was held in Lafayette to discuss the issue of 9-1-1 surcharge erosion, the ability to assess pre-paid wireless card/phones, and the ability to assess any type of service that can access 9-1-1 (new emerging technology such as VoIP that is not currently regulated). Ms. Carter stated that a copy of the draft bill was included in the Agenda package. She stated that it was agreed during this meeting to split the attached bill into two separate bills and have both bills pre-filed. Senator Murray of New Orleans and his staff have been working with the Orleans 9-1-1 District in drafting the wording. Once a final version of the bill has been received, she stated that the District could then ask the local Caddo delegation for their support and sponsorship. Under the definition section of the draft bill, sections were added regarding pre-paid wireless to clarify the districts’ authority to assess prepaid services such as pre-paid card or phones, and those requirements are based upon point of purchase for the service at the retailer level based upon zip code. During the meeting, Mr. Leighton Lang, Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel, with Tracfone, discussed Tracfone’s willingness to help with the legislation based upon the collection and remittance by using zip codes, which is the only trackable data captured at the time of sale. The committee proposed a formula based upon an assessment of a 1.7% surcharge fee on the cost of the card could be added. The retailers would sell the service with the 1.7% surcharge fee added and then remit to Tracfone, who would remit to the communications districts based upon zip codes. This proposed legislation was crafted after similar bills that were successfully passed in the states of Maine, Ohio, Rhode Island and Virginia. Ms. Carter stated that once she had received a final version of the proposed bill, she would bring that back to the board for their review. Ms. Carter reported that language for the VoIP portion was still being worked on with the proposed surcharge amount of $1.00. This bill would also be structured to include the ability to assess any type of service that can access 9-1-1.

Ms. Carter reported on the status of filling the vacancy of the District’s Radio System Technician and the applicants for this position. She stated that of the 29 applicants, only 3 had any type of 800 MHz radio qualifications. Ms. Carter stated that for different reasons, those three were rejected, and the process will be started over. She stated that a broader nationwide search will be initiated. Ms. Carter explained that because of rebanding, all of the qualified radio technicians are being hired by the various Motorola service shops and as a result, there is a limited pool of qualified radio technicians with the specialized technical expertise that the Districts needs. In the interim, Ms. Carter stated that she has authorized part-time contract help from Shreveport Communications if necessary to assist the District’s Radio Systems Manager. Reverend Thomas suggested utilizing the different military publications as another source for advertising for the Radio Technician search.

Ms. Carter stated that information about the August APCO Conference had been prepared by Ms. Rachal and was given out to each board member. She stated that APCO was promoting a special discount registration rate for attendees, who registered before March 7th, and she asked the board to please review and let Ms. Rachal know as soon as possible any planned to attend the conference.

Reverend Thomas asked if there was any additional business. Rev. Thomas asked the Board if they felt that it would be appropriate for Ms. Carter to draft a letter of congratulations on behalf of the Board to Mr. Dave Hanson, past 9-1-1 board member, new Mayor of the Town of Greenwood. The board agreed and directed Ms. Carter to draft the letter. With no further business to be brought before the Board, Reverend Thomas adjourned the meeting.