BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 1, 2015 MEETING
ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head. 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. EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, BREMSS, Blount EMS, Law Enforcement and the District Attorney Office were also represented. 9·1·1 Director Caleb Branch, Operations Manager Neal Brooks and 911 Board Members Bob Sanford and Tim Kent
were also present. 42 people signed the attendance sheets.
GUESTS – Leo Deason of Herzing University sponsored the meal but could not be present at the meeting.
Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the September meeting. Motion by Chief Payne, seconded by Chief Ellenburg, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Chief Hill, seconded by Chief Payne, and carried by voice vote.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CHAIRMAN – Chairman Jon Head requested that those departments that had not done so complete their AED survey information and get it to EMA. He also reminded everyone that your HCA reimbursement grant is available for use. Return all invoices or quotes to the EMA office. Applications are available to place apparatus in the Blount County Veterans' Day Parade which will be Saturday, November 7 in Oneonta. Annual equipment inspections and financial statement verifications are due at the end of December so please get started.
EMA – Director Don Roybal asked for those names of department members you would like to see trained in ICS 300 / 400. The annual APACT Training for underground utilities will be in Gardendale on October 13 for a noon meeting or evening meeting, both with a meal. Don is also putting together an EOC Ops & Planning class for next year for those interested. There will be a drive-through flu clinic at the Agri-Business Center on Wednesday, October 7 from 0900-1600. Participants will not have to leave their vehicle. Doug highlighted the FY15 Fuelman budget which is $30000 under budget for this year. Prices are down which helped contribute to that but usage is also down about 2000 gallons compared to FY14. Everyone should be commended but be advised the FY16 budget is set at $60000.
9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Director Caleb Branch announced several CPR training classes at the Center during October. Run reports are always on the website.
TRAINING – Training Officer Tim Frye, Jr had no specific report but a Live Fire Instructor class is planned later this Fall and Cleveland will conduct EVOC classes on October 11 & 18.
FIRE PREVENTION – Joe Ray Dailey reported the Blount County Fair was a success with 33 sign-ups for smoke detector installation requests.
FORESTRY – Forest Project Specialist Terry Helms reminded all departments that the FEPP inspectors would be in Blount County to inspect and inventory random departments and equipment on October 21. You will be notified if your department will be inspected.
SPECIAL OPS – No report.
ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – STV-B had no report but Tammy praised their new tele-medicine trial that can place stroke treatment patients in front of a neurologist in a real time video format which assists with a quicker evaluation and diagnosis of their symptoms.
BREMSS – John Reed announced that American Heart Association guidelines should come out by mid-October. BLS/ALS material should be released in March or April of 2016. The Protocols sub-committee meets October 16 after the AHA guidelines are publicized. There is a new Con-Ed approval process in place. Grandview Hospital will move patients on a Saturday utilizing 50+ ambulances. Some recent reports indicate wall-time in some ER facilities has been at 6.5 hours. The Cardiac Science E-Series AED is being removed from the support status by the manufacturer. The BREMSS Executive Committee meets October 21.
Blount EMS – Tammy asked that you let her know if you need something.
AMED – No report.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – BCSO Operations Manager Tim Kent thanked the departments involved in the Cleveland house fire for the quick action which assisted with their felony investigation. Also, there is Facebook video available of suspects in vehicles conducting drive-by mailbox vandalism by loaded weapons. If you see any damage or suspicious activity in your coverage area, please notify the BCSO.
CORONER – No report.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY – District Attorney Pamela Casey advised that she will attend a Fire Investigator training class in mid-October.
LIFESAVER – No report.
AIR-EVAC – No report.
RED CROSS – No report.
GOOD & WELFARE – No report.
OLD BUSINESS:
l Officer nominations were held for the following postions:
Chairman – Jon Head nominated with no floor nominations
Vice-Chairman – Ken Edwards with no floor nominations
Sec/Treasurer – Doug Smith with no floor nominations
Training Officer – Tim Frye, Jr with no floor nominations
A motion to close the nominations was offered from Chief Payne and seconded by Chief Hill. These positions were filled by acclamation.
EMT of the Year – Chance Payne – Allgood FD with no floor nominations
Dispatcher of the Year – John Morton with no floor nominations
Fire Fighter of the Year – Joe Ray Dailey – Murphree Valley FD with
J.J.Ivey – West Blount Fire & EMS District being nominated from the floor.
A motion to close nominations was offered from Chief Payne and seconded by Chief Glass. The EMT and Dispatcher positions were filled by acclamation. A voice vote followed with Chief J.J. Ivey being elected as Fire Fighter of the Year.
NEW BUSINESS:
l Announcements were made concerning a pump test at Holly Springs and a ladder test at Oneonta in the near future. Departments can save money by attending these as the more tests that are conducted, the less costs per department. Check with Chief Hill and Chief Willis for exact dates.
l The date for the Association website renewal is January, 2016 and discussions centered on per year hosting and maintenance costs. Chief Ivey made a motion with a second from Chief Payne to have Tim Frye, Jr. investigate annual costs and report his findings. The costs can now be paid through the Association checking account instead of having to do individual reimbursements.
l Shannon FD in Jefferson County has advertised they are closing their doors and are offering various equipment for sale.
l Locust Fork Fire has recently tested surplus 1-1/2” & 2-1/2” hose available for sale.
l A discussion about conducting background checks on potential members was brought by Chief Hill who wants to develop a specific policy for that. Some departments reported that their insurance carrier does this for them. District Attorney Pamela Casey encouraged departments to use the ABI due to the specific detail involved in their system. She will make a follow up report at the next meeting.
The next meeting will be November 5 at Dalton Moss Lodge at Palisades Park. The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by District Attorney Pamela Casey and her office.