2016-11-3 Minutes

BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 3, 2016 MEETING

 DALTON MOSS LODGE, PALISADES PARK

 

                                              

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head.  Joe Ray Dailey 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, Special Ops, BREMSS, Alabama Fire College, American Red Cross and the District Attorney Office were also represented.  9·1·1 Director Caleb Branch, Operations Manager Neal Brooks, Communications Officer Justin Davis and Board Member Chief Bob Sanford were also present.  42 people signed the attendance roster.

 

GUESTS – The meal was sponsored by District Attorney Pamela Casey and her staff.  Pamela commented that she is proud to provide a meal and thanked all departments and personnel for what you do for the citizens of Blount County.  Adam Strickland from the Alabama Department of Labor spoke briefly on what underage volunteers can and can’t do around the fire department and any apparatus.  Work around the fire station does not apply to child labor laws.  If an underage individual is in close proximity to a working fire scene, that would be a violation of child labor laws.  Tommy Liverett of DEC Fire & Water Restoration highlighted their biochemical capabilities.  Chairman Head thanked Tommy for the recent donation of a TV to be used for promotional materials at public events.  Tra Carter of the First Responders Task Force introduced information regarding life insurance options for 1st Responders.  Chairman Head appointed a committee of Chiefs Netherton, Gilbert, Hill and Assistant Chief Ellison to work as a committee to gather information from other departments in their geographical areas of Blount County and process that information back to Ms. Carter.  Allan Rice, outgoing Executive Director of the Alabama Fire College, stated he was proud to have worked with the fire service of Alabama.

     

Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the October meeting.  Motion by Chief Booth, seconded by Chief Willis, and carried by voice vote.  The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Chief Netherton, seconded by Assistant Chief Walker, and carried by voice vote.  

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

CHAIRMAN – Chairman Head reminded everyone about the TECC training at Wallace/Oneonta on November 4-5.  Jon has had discussions with Tim Kent of the BCSO on the laws regarding open burning during a No Burn Order.  Tim responded that he has had discussions with his patrol units and they are ready to assist any fire department with enforcement assistance.  Jon recognized Chief Adrean Booth as the Blount County Firefighter of the Year; Caleb Branch recognized Communication Officer Justin Davis as Dispatcher of the Year and Nick Fountain will receive his EMT of the Year award at the BREMSS banquet.    

 

EMA – Director Don Roybal announced that the HMPG grant for Blount County have been sent to State EMA.  The priorities for these grants were 1) Backup generator for the 911 Palisades tower. 2) Stationary generators for all Blount County VFDs.  3) Generator for Snead Water Department.  The Hazard Mitigation 5-year update plan has been completed and sent to State EMA for approval.  Homeland Security grants are waiting on ALEA confirmation.  A Winter Weather table top exercise was held yesterday and there will be a training exercise in January for a total EOC activation.  October Fuelman totals were at 180% of budget totals due to excessive wildfire responses.   

 

9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Director Caleb Branch advised that EMT Academy applications are due December 9.  They are working to solve AT&T email issues.  The new CAD system should go live by November 15.

 

TRAINING – Participants should register for Block 3 of the Hazmat A&O training.  

 

FIRE PREVENTION – Please make sure that all residents that signed up for smoke alarm installations get them installed.  Please make that a priority.

 

FORESTRY – Forestry Project Specialist Terry Helms handed out AFC Grant Applications that are due back by December 2.  Expect FEPP surplus vehicle inspections in December or January.  Terry stated he was very appreciative of all the help given by all departments to AFC during the overwhelming wildfire situation during the extended drought.  Terry discussed issues with the delay in receiving quarterly landfill checks from Forestry headquarters in Montgomery and would like someone from the Association or at least the County Commission to contact AFC representative John Goff at the Montgomery office to help solve the situation.  

 

          SPECIAL OPS – Chief Willis had no report.  

 

ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report.     

 

BREMSS – John Reed advised that trauma volume has been running extremely high so call TCC early before transport.  The next SMECC meeting will be Monday, December 5.  The BREMSS banquet will be November 14 with a Board Member meeting prior to the banquet.  John encouraged all personnel to get their flu shots.

 

Blount EMS – Tammy was working a truck but encouraged anyone with a question to call her.

 

AMED – No report. 

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT – No report.

 

CORONER – No report.  

 

STATE FIRE MARSHALL – No report.

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY – District Attorney Pamela Casey reported that Mark Staton was now an Investigator with her department.

 

ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE – Allan Rice reminded all Chiefs that the Fire Chief’s Conference would be January 31 - February 2 and encouraged all to attend.  Tommy Liverett has sponsored one attendance fee to the Association. 

 

LIFESAVER – No report.

 

AIR-EVAC – No report. 

 

RED CROSS – Gabbie Rhett announced she has plenty of smoke alarm batteries as well as additional smoke alarms to hand out at holiday community events.  Red Cross assisted on 7 cases in Blount County during October totaling about $4000 in assistance.  

 

GOOD & WELFARE – No report.  

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:  

l  Chairman Head spoke to Dr. Stoney Beavers who is the curriculum coordinator for the Blount County School system about a Fire College / Career Tech joint program.  Dr. Beavers advised it was not a done deal as there were questions about funding and Jon advised Dr. Beavers that the Association would like to be a principle partner and primary stakeholder if that program develops.

l  If you are hosting an Explorer post within your department, please see Chief Booth for application and educational materials before you go any further.  Guidelines must be followed to BSA standards. 

l  Apparatus Inspection Sheets and Financial Review letters are due at EMA by December 31 in order to stay compliant with the Association Rules of Operation.   

 

                              

NEW BUSINESS:

l  The 2017 proposed budget was discussed with two options.  Option #2 was the consensus pick and was approved by voice vote following a motion and second from the floor.

l  A Communications Committee was formed to operate within the Association for the purpose of improving communications between partner agencies.  Chief Payne was appointed as Chairman, Chief Willis as Vice-Chairman with 911 Director Caleb Branch, EMA Director Don Roybal and Chief Tim Frye, Sr. rounding out that Committee.

l  Ken Edwards announced the next AAVFD Board meeting will be Saturday, November 12.

l  Meeting dates for 2017 were scheduled:

 

January – Remlap / February – West Blount / March – Blountsville /

April – Pine Mtn / May – Locust Fork / June – Mt. High & Ricetown /

July – Susan Moore / August – Straight Mtn / September – St. Vincent’s Blount /

October – Rosa / November – Palisades / December - Oneonta

 

 

 

 

The next meeting will be January 5, 2017 at Remlap Fire Station 1.   The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by Stacy Waldrep with VFIS.