BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF AUGUST 4, 2016 MEETING
ROYAL COMMUNITY CENTER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head. 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, Royal, Snead, St. Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount. EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, BREMSS, Blount EMS, Coroner and the State Fire Marshall Office were also represented. 9·1·1 Director Caleb Branch, Operations Manager Neal Brooks and Board Member Chief Bob Sanford were also present. 38 people signed the attendance sheets.
GUESTS – Steve Hogue of Clark Associates, Inc. sponsored the meal and discussed their insurance services. Steve will shop insurance for you regardless of who your insurance provider is. Shane Hobson represented Advanced Rescue Solutions with several pieces of equipment for show and offers of equipment demonstrations. Blount County District 3 Commissioner Dean Calvert was present as well as Tommy Liverett of DEC Fire & Water Restoration.
Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the July meeting. Motion by Chief Ellenburg, seconded by Assistant Chief Walker, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Assistant Chief Walker, seconded by Assistant Chief Robertson, and carried by voice vote.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CHAIRMAN – Chairman Jon Head reminded all departments that annual equipment inspection reports and verification of financial reviews are due at the end of December. Vice-Chair Ken Edwards had provided the report from the AAVFD Annual Meeting along with minutes from the quarterly AFC Dist 2 Firefighters Association (see attached). The recent Worker’s Compensation audit resulted in some increases for several departments based on 2015-2016 rosters. If there was a change for your department, you will be invoiced for the difference. The Blount County Health Care Authority again included the BCF&EMSA in their annual budget but only at level funding from 2016. There will be no increase in the ALS portion even though there is an additional ALS certified department this year. The $7000.00 ALS allocation will be spread across 8 departments so each ALS unit will receive an additional $875.00 for funding beyond the basic BLS $1500.00 allocation. This money can be spent after October 1, 2016. Invoices will be sent to EMA through the same process as last year. Holly Springs was awarded an ISO rating of “3” based on their recent ISO review. Chairman Head requested that both Chief Booth and Chief Hill review the equipment inspection forms to make sure that all ISO required equipment is listed so that other departments will have what they need on-hand during their next ISO review. He also stressed that each department needs to review and update the automatic aid listings with the 911 Center so that the proper department is toned out to the correct portion of your coverage area.
EMA – Director Don Roybal repeated that the EOC Ops & Planning training will be held August 23-25 at Lester Memorial in Oneonta. Let him know if you have a department member that will be attending. July Fuelman totals were at 82% of monthly budgets.
9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Director Caleb Branch announced that the new CAD transition for the Dispatch Center will take place during the second week of November.
TRAINING – A Suicide Prevention Conference focusing on First Responders will be held in Montgomery on Sept 7 – costs is $30.00. Information has been put on Egroups. Station 19 will host A&O Water Supply training this Fall. Station 92 will host a Health Care Provider course on August 12. Block 1 of another 160 class will start on September 12, look for info on Egroups. Several Chiefs showed interest in a Live Fire Instructors Course.
FIRE PREVENTION – The 2016 Fair Booth will focus on Fire Prevention with a budget of $250.00 to order any needed materials. Joe Ray Dailey encouraged everyone who works the booth to step out as a hero and meet the public.
FORESTRY – Forestry Project Specialist Terry Helms asked again that everyone please turn in your Federal Surplus vehicle insurance coverage paperwork to his office and also make sure it is posted in each vehicle.
SPECIAL OPS – Chief Willis advised that the control of the Command Bus can be reassigned if any department wants to assume that responsibility.
ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report.
BREMSS – John Reed reported that Cahaba Valley Fire was recruiting for their fire & EMS program. The SEMCC meeting will be in September in Oxford along with the East Alabama Chiefs Conference. The next EMS Coordinator meeting will be August 17 at Brookwood. Birmingham International Airport will conduct a full scale exercise on August 25, they are looking for 100 victims. The Blount County Young Farmers will conduct Farm Rescue Training at Miller Farms in Snead on Saturday, August 27.
Blount EMS – Tammy asked that you let her know if you have any concerns or questions.
AMED – No report.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – No report.
CORONER – Coroner Mark Vaughn had no report.
STATE FIRE MARSHALL – Investigator Fred Cochran thanked all the departments that have assisted his office in recent weeks with his investigations on structure fire arson cases.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY – No report.
ALABAMA FIRE COLLEGE – Chief Booth advised that Mike Hill is asking all departments to send department training information to him and AFC will log the training hours. They will need the exact training info and the roster.
LIFESAVER – No report.
AIR-EVAC – No report.
RED CROSS – Gabbie Rhett could not attend but asked that everyone start scheduling your smoke alarm installations. VFDs can line up the schedules and she will assist if you want her too. She also still has excess batteries for units previously installed.
GOOD & WELFARE – No report.
OLD BUSINESS:
l Chief Booth advised she would attend an Explorer’s Conference at Liberty Park on August 18 to get more information on setting up a post.
l The Fire & Rescue Family Fun Day is set for Saturday, Sept 3, at the Agri-Business Center with a registration deadline of August 13.
NEW BUSINESS:
l Chiefs Frey, Gilbert and Gunn were appointed to serve as the 2016 Nominating Committee. They will present nominations at the October meeting for Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Sec./Treas, Training Officer, Firefighter of the Year, EMT of the Year and Dispatcher of the Year. The Special Ops team will appoint their Commander.
l There was an extended conversation concerning the EMT Scholarship program dealing with reimbursement of completed training with no decision made about how to proceed.
l As part of that discussion, Chairman Head will approach the Health Care Authority to inquire about using portions of our allocations to cover EMT scholarships.
l Commissioner Dean Calvert briefly discussed the proposed 1 cent sales tax referendum, “Moving Blount County Forward”. Commission representatives are going to municipal meetings around the county to garner support and provide the facts surrounding the details of the referendum.
The next meeting will be September 1 at St. Vincent’s Blount. The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by STV-Blount.