BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION MINUTES OF OCTOBER 4, 2018 MEETING ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Ken Edwards. Chief Paul Gilbert 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, Snead, St.

Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount. EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, BREMSS, Blount EMS, Law Enforcement, Air Evac and Red Cross were also represented. 9·1·1 Interim Director Neal Brooks and Board Member Chief Bob Sanford were also present. 36 people signed the attendance sheets.

GUESTS – Sheriff-elect Mark Moon spoke and advised he was looking forward to working with the members of the Association.

Vice-Chairman Edwards asked for the approval of the minutes of the September meeting. Motion by Chief Payne, seconded by Chief Stanton, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Assistant Chief Hobson, seconded by Chief Ivey, and carried by voice vote.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CHAIRMAN – Vice-Chairman Edwards reported that the Ambulance Advisory Committee had not yet met for the month so there was no current report.  He reminded all departments that the deadline for the annual Equipment Check List report and Financial Report were due by the end of December but please don’t wait until the last minute.

EMA – Deputy Director Danon Smith announced a new pre-disaster mitigation grant and a flood mitigation grant are available. See Danon or Don for details. Also the AFG Grant deadline is approaching and there has been no report concerning the DHS grant status.

Fuelman for September was at 108% of the monthly budget with the year-end usage total at 112% of the annual budget.

9·1·1 – Neal Brooks has been appointed as 911 Interim Director. Neal advised to be careful when purchasing certain radios that don’t meet specific emergency use requirements. He requested that if you find any addresses that aren’t lined up correctly, please notify the 911 Center so they can be verified. Alabama Power is discovering that some roads were numbered outside of the 911 system.

COMMUNICATIONS – No report.

TRAINING – The CPR mannequins purchased several years ago may need an upgrade per AHA guidelines which would include a feedback monitor.  Upgrades are available for around

$70. Station 92 is hosting a Health Care Provider CPR class on November 17.

FIRE PREVENTION – Chief Booth reported that there has been no decision on the location of the 2019 Fire Academy but there was a lot of interest by visitors to the Fire Association booth at the Fair.

EXPLORER POST – No report.

FORESTRY – Forester Matt Tucker announced that he had applications for the 50/50 Fire Equipment grants. A new Regional Fire Specialist has been appointed. If you are interested in taking the S130 / S190 Wildland Fire training courses, let Matt know. These are prerequisites for applying for some grants and also being placed on western fire details.

SPECIAL OPS – No report.

ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report.

BREMSS – Brian Gober advised that new operational guidelines have been posted on the ADPH website. EMS rules are being revised. October 10 – 11 is the East Alabama EMS Conference in Oxford. A BLS Instructor course will be in early November with a PALS Instructor course in December. The BREMSS banquet will be at the Pelham Civic Center on November 13.

BLOUNT EMS – Operations Manager Weslie Powell announced multiple training dates for several courses to be completed from October through January. Please contact him for details.

LAW ENFORCEMENT – Sheriff-elect Mark Moon reported he is interested in putting together a joint training exercise for law enforcement, fire departments, EMS and the school system to highlight a mass casualty exercise in a school setting. He will have more details at a later date.

STATE FIRE MARSHALL – No report.

CORONER – No report.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY – No report.

LIFESAVER – No report.

AIR-EVAC – Julie Warden and Brian McCain were present to announce that Air-Evac is working on improving the perception on their ETAs to scenes as well as their patient care. Please contact Julie with any questions or concerns.

RAMS – No report.

ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE – Regional Coordinator Mike Hill provided information about the Fire College Weekend events coming up which will include a memorial service on Saturday at 1500. An Explorers Weekend will be held on October 19-21. He also asked that if your department received smoke alarms to be distributed and installed for home owners please submit your paperwork or return the unused smoke alarms. There were 26 training classes conducted in Blount County that were sponsored by the Fire College in FY2018.

RED CROSS – Debra Dolph introduced herself as the new Disaster Program Specialist for the American Red Cross. Her area of responsibility includes Blount County and she is also a Blount County resident.

VOAD – Danon announced the next VOAD meeting will be at EMA on October 18. There is a need for a new volunteer coordinator.