BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2014 MEETING

ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT

The meeting was called to order by Chairman John Reed. Mel Wade gave the invocation. The following member organizations were represented: Allgood, Bangor, Blount County Rescue Squad, Blountsville, Brooksville, Cleveland, Dallas-Selfville, Holly Springs, Locust Fork, Mt. High, Murphree Valley, Nectar, Oneonta, Pine Mountain, Remlap, Ricetown, Rosa, Royal, Snead, St. Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount. (100%) EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, BREMSS and Law Enforcement were also represented. 9·1·1Supervisor Neal Brooks and Board Members Sheriff Arrington and Chief Bob Sanford were present.

GUESTS – Brad Cox and Shane Bryson of McCord Communications provided the meal and thanked their customers for your business and discussed some of their products such as Motorola, Kenwood and Whelen. Candidates were given 3 minutes to introduce themselves and their platforms. Tim Kent, Chairman of the Blount County Republican Party, thanked all the departments and members for everything you do for the people of Blount County and asked that you remember all the local and statewide candidates. Candidates that spoke were for Sheriff: Loyd Arrington and Ryan Fortenberry and for Commission District 3: Dean Calvert.

Chairman Reed asked for the approval of the minutes of the September meeting. Motion by Chief Glass, seconded by Chief Hill, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Assistant Chief Benson, seconded by Chief Glass, and carried by voice vote.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CHAIRMAN – Chairman John Reed ask if any department had any problems with the Association operating on a calendar year program instead of a fiscal year of October – September. There were no objections. AAVFD has recently converted to a fiscal year calendar which has called for two payments of annual dues in one calendar year. The meeting for the AAVFD District II will be at O’ So Good BBQ on Thursday, October 23. (See attached info). Mule Day will be held in Oneonta on Saturday, Nov. 15 with a mule train coming through north Blount County and four fire coverage areas the week prior.

EMA – Director Don Roybal gave an update on FEMA reimbursements which are still pending due to paperwork. The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee will meet October 16 to determine the recipient of the Community Shelter grant. Fuelman for the month of September was at 121% of budget and also for the year. The FY14 budget was $70,000 with expenses at $85,000. The FY15 budget is set at $80,000.

9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Supervisor Neal Brooks reported that things were going well at the Center.

TRAINING – Training Officer Tim Frye, Jr. advised that there were several emails out about training during Fire College Week. An EVOC class will be held at Cleveland. Holly Springs will host a Mobile Water Supply training class on Nov 2, 5 and 8.

FIRE PREVENTION – Joe Ray Dailey announced that the County Fair was very successful with great attendance. The smoke detector giveaway went very well.

FORESTRY – Forest Project Specialist Terry Helms handed out Forestry Grant forms with a due date back to him of December 12. He also provided Federal Training & Equipment Grant forms which need to be mailed to Athens when completed. The Federal equipment inspection team will be in the county soon. Updated insurance cards and updated AFC / Fire Department agreements both need to be kept in the vehicles. If any departments need military vehicle replacement parts contact Memphis Equipment @ 901-774-0600.

SPECIAL OPS – All excess Hazmat equipment has been inventoried and will be dispersed

to departments in November. Be looking for announcements on Egoups.

ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT –No report.

BREMSS – John thanked the Association for again sponsoring a table at the BREMSS banquet to be held on November 17 at the Pelham Civic Center. There will be a Board meeting that night at 1700 with the banquet at 1830. CPR and new devices was the subject of the recent EMS Coordinators meeting. At a recent National Registry meeting discussions were about changes in re-certification and re-licensing. The State EMS exam has been put on hold for now. Hospital beds are filling up and med-surge beds are tight so it is important to call and arrange arrival information at hospitals before your ambulance leaves the scene of an incident. Information should also include the name and position of the individual you talk to at the hospital.

Blount EMS – Let Tammy know if you need anything.

AMED – No report.

LAW ENFORCEMENT – SGT Investigator Fred Cochran thanked Murphree Valley for their assistance in preserving evidence at a house fire with fatality.

CORONER – No report.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY – No report.

LIFESAVER – No report.

AIR-EVAC – No report.

RED CROSS – Volunteer Coordinator Pat Seames sent word to all chiefs to please request

on-scene Red Cross assistance as soon as possible. There have been some situations

where homeowners have come to Red Cross requesting help after the ARC deadline has

passed. 911 dispatchers will make that request if notified by the on-scene IC.

GOOD & WELFARE – Committee Chair Ralph Mitchell reminded all that any fire fighter or

EMS personnel are eligible for assistance if injured while performing their duties. He also

asked that G&W be included as a line item in the 2015 budget.

OLD BUSINESS:

§ Departments were reminded to complete their equipment inspection reports and submit them along with the financial review letter to EMA.

§ Invoices for Health Care Authority reimbursement can be sent to EMA for processing. Quotes can be submitted for payment but invoices must be filed by March 31.

§ Application are available to place an apparatus in the Blount County Veterans Day Parade to be held on Saturday, November 8 in Oneonta.

§ Nearly 50 people are interested in the Wills for Heroes project and information has been sent to the District Attorney's office.

§ Election of 2015 Association officers was held. Those elected by acclimation after calling three times each for nominations from the floor were:

Ø Vice-Chairman – Ken Edwards

Ø Sec./Treas. - Doug Smith

Ø Training officer – Tim Frye, Jr.

Ø Firefighter of the Year – Jonathan Ledbetter – Susan Moore

Ø Dispatcher of the Year – Carrie Reid

Due to a mis-communications, Chris Manning and Samantha Stasica were

nominated as a pair for EMT of the Year when in actuality, the nomination was

meant to be a vote between the two of them. During the meeting they were voted in by acclimation but when the error was discovered later there was an electronic vote by the Fire Chiefs. The result of that vote was that Chris Manning was elected as EMT of the Year. FFOY & DOY will receive their plaque at the November Association meeting and the EMT of the Year plaque will be presented

at the BREMSS banquet.

· John Reed and Jon Head were nominated for Chairman. Jon Head was elected Chairman by a show of hands vote.

NEW BUSINESS:

§ Dues of $30.00 will be paid for the Oneonta Business Association membership. We are assisting them with developing emergency notification placards for store fronts.

§ An Ebola scare today at the Birmingham airport highlighted the need for information to be available if we should get local calls.

§ The Smokey Bear outfit will need some parts ordered and minor repairs made.

§ Three BREMSS Board members must be elected. Nominations were: Scott Payne; Tammy Pierce; Ralph Mitchell; Arthur Willis; and Shane Hobson. Each department present was allowed one ballot listing three names. Elected BREMSS Board members are: Scott Payne, Tammy Pierce and Arthur Willis.

The next meeting will be November 6 at Dalton Moss Lodge at Palisades. The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by District Attorney Pamela Casey.