2016-09-01 Minutes

BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 MEETING

ST. VINCENT’S-BLOUNT HOSPITAL

         

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head.  Chief Tim Frye gave the invocation. The following member organizations were represented: Allgood, Bangor, Blountsville, Brooksville, Cleveland, Dallas-Selfville, Holly Springs, Locust Fork, Mt. High, Murphree Valley, Nectar, Oneonta, Pine Mountain, Remlap, Ricetown, Royal, Snead, St. Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount.   EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, STV-Blount, BREMSS, Blount EMS, American Red Cross and the District Attorney Office were also represented.  9·1·1 Director Caleb Branch, Operations Manager Neal Brooks and Board Member Chief Bob Sanford were also present.  43 people signed the attendance sheets.

 

GUESTS – STV-Blount sponsored the meal thanks to Kira Schittnker and Tsianina Martin who discussed the results of recent community surveys as they effect the hospital programs implemented in the community.  Steve Hogue of Clark Associates and Tommy Liveritt of DEC Fire & Water Restoration were also present.   

     

Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the August meeting.  Motion by Chief Frye, seconded by Assistant Chief Phillips, and carried by voice vote.  The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Chief Gilbert, seconded by Chief Ayers, and carried by voice vote.  

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

CHAIRMAN – Chairman Head announced that the Oneonta Christmas Parade will be held on Tuesday, December 6 so the open house at Oneonta Fire & Rescue will be moved to that night following the Parade.  There was a discussion about Rules of Operations and what level of involvement is expected from the Association.  It is the consensus of the Executive Committee that each member fire department has its own Board of Trustees or Municipal Council that they report to.  These groups, not the Association, should govern the financial and personnel matters of each department.  The 2016 Blount County Veterans’ Day Parade will be Saturday, November 5.  Applications for placing an apparatus in the Parade are available and should be returned to Amy Rhudy at the Blount County Memorial Museum by October 31, 2016.        

 

EMA – Director Don Roybal thanked all that attended the recent EOC Operations training class.  The Hazard Mitigation Plan is in the process of being updated so there will be several announced meetings requesting your attendance in the near future. Don also handed out information concerning an ALEA/Homeland Security Grant that is open for application.  There is a list of approved equipment that Fire and Law Enforcement departments can apply for.  The applications need to be returned to Don @ EMA by October 6.  Fuelman usage for the month of August was at 67% of monthly budget.     

 

9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Director Caleb Branch advised that EMD classes will be held at the Center on October 27, 28 and 30.  The CAD installation should be complete by Sept 13. 

 

TRAINING – The next on-line 160 class will begin Sept 12.  Register by Sept 2.  OFRS will host the Fire Trailer the last week of September at Tennessee Valley Metals.  Fire College Week is September 12-16.  The APACT 811 Pipeline meeting will be in Gardendale on Sept 22 at the Gardendale Community Center at 1100.

 

FIRE PREVENTION – The Association Fair Booth will host the AFC Live Burn trailer.  Chief Booth will set the assignment schedule with 5 firefighters per shift.  Chiefs will be assigned as Operations Managers.      

 

FORESTRY – Forestry Project Specialist Terry Helms had no specific report other than to remind everyone that fire season was approaching.  Make sure your equipment is ready to roll.    

 

          SPECIAL OPS – Chief Willis had no report.  

 

ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No additional report.     

 

BREMSS – John Reed reported that the next SEMCC meeting will be Sept 6 at Oxford Civic Center at 1300.  The East Alabama Chief’s Conference is in Oxford on Sept 7 & 8.  The recent Farm Safety Day training went well with over 90 people in attendance.  EMS and EMR courses are being taught in multiple Career Tech high school campuses around the BREMSS region.  For this area, 175 students are currently enrolled in Basic EMT courses and 25 in Advanced EMT.  175 are in Paramedic training but only 7 will be eligible for graduation and employment by December.  There will continue to be a shortage of qualified employment pool for Paramedics for the near future.

 

Blount EMS – Tammy asked that you let her know how she can help you.

 

AMED – No report.  

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT – No report.

 

CORONER – Coroner Mark Vaughn expressed concerns over the current epidemic levels of heroin overdoses.  Recent sample tests have shown a product mix which is 200 times stronger than morphine.  The medication policy for any Blount County Coroner call is that no narcotics found in the deceased home are transported by any member of the Coroner’s office.  All narcotics are catalogued and left with the BCSO.     

 

STATE FIRE MARSHALL No report.

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY – District Attorney Pamela Casey offered two pieces of advice for Fire & EMS responders working any accident scene.  First, be aware of items belonging to victims as they are scattered on the scene.  Do not remove or relocate any of these items until cleared to do so by law enforcement as their location could be critical to the investigation of the incident.  Second, be aware of any comments responders may make while on the scene.  Most law enforcement officers now wear body cameras with voice capability so anything said on the scene about the incident or about the victims could prove to be cause for legal action or, at least, major embarrassment to the responder and the department.   

 

ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE – No report.

 

LIFESAVER – No report.

 

AIR-EVAC – No report.

 

 

 

RED CROSS – Gabbie Rhett reported that 68 Alabama Red Cross personnel are deployed to Louisiana to assist with flood recovery operations.  20 of these were from the Birmingham area.  In August, the Blount Red Cross unit handled 4 fire cases; 11 clients; and assisted with $17000 worth of assistance to those affected.  Smoke alarms are in now and she also has batteries for older units already installed.  Please send her the name and address of any installations your departments are involved with.  

 

GOOD & WELFARE – No report.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  

l  The background information for the EMT Scholarship that came from the Blount County Health Care Authority in past years was discussed.  This money went unrequested for several years and was reallocated by the HCA to other areas. 

l  Chief Willis discussed a meeting he attended at the Boy Scout office concerning establishing an Explorer Post with the Association serving as the sponsoring agency.  The BSA administration has no opposition to this plan provided the Association meets all of the sponsoring requirements.

l  The updates on the Association equipment inspection list to match the newer ISO requirements is still in progress.

                              

NEW BUSINESS:

l  James Self with the Etowah County Rescue Squad has requested permission to use the Blount County fire frequencies when on a mutual aid call in Blount County.  Chief Payne made a motion to approve; second from Assistant Chief Robertson and passed by voice vote.

l  With approval the Association will sponsor at table at the annual BREMSS banquet.  Motion to support BREMSS was given by Chief Payne, second from Chief Booth and passed by voice vote.

l  First Baptist Church-Oneonta will host a First Responder Recognition Service for all Blount County fire, law enforcement and EMS agencies and departments. The service will be Sunday, September 11 at 10:15 AM with a luncheon to follow.

l  The Nominating Committee offered the following names for the 2017 Association officer and awards nominations:

l  Chairman – Chief Jon Head

l  Vice-Chairman – Asst. Chief Ken Edwards

l  Sec./Treasurer – Doug Smith

l  Training Officer – Asst. Chief Tim Frye, Jr.

l  Dispatcher of the Year – Justin Davis

l  EMT of the Year – Nick Fountain, Blount EMS

l  Firefighter of the Year – Chief Adrean Booth, Bangor Fire

 

The next meeting will be October 6 at Rosa Fire Department.   The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by Judge Burns, Judge King and Judge Green.