2016-01-07 Minutes

BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2016 MEETING

REMLAP FIRE – STATION 1

         

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jon Head.  Joe Ray Dailey 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, Summit, Susan Moore and West Blount.   EMA, 9·1·1, Forestry, Special Ops, STV-Blount, BREMSS, Blount EMS, Lifesaver and the District Attorney Office were also represented.  9·1·1 Operations Manager Neal Brooks and Board Members Dean Gilbert and Chief Bob Sanford were also present.  37 people signed the Attendance Sheet.

 

GUESTS – Stacey Waldrop of VFIS sponsored the meal, thanked everyone for their support and business, and provided a short presentation on the benefits of using their Workman’s Comp program through the Association group policy.  Tommy Livrett of DEC was also present.  

     

Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the January meeting.  Motion by Chief Ellenberg, seconded by Chief Reed, and carried by voice vote.  The Financial Report included money moved to designated accounts as voted on at the November, 2015 meeting.  A motion to accept the Financial Report was given by Chief Payne, seconded by Chief Hill, and carried by voice vote.  It was also noted that 2016 Association dues of $250.00 should be paid by March 1, 2016.  Invoices will be sent to all departments.  

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

CHAIRMAN – Chairman Head reported that all but one department had satisfactorily completed the Equipment Inspection and Financial Review requirements.  The final department will be given until the February meeting due to having a new Chief.  He reminded all departments that April, 2016 is the deadline for completing the initial  department-wide Comms training through the 911 Center.  HCA reimbursements can be sent in to EMA to be forwarded for payments.  Vice-Chairman Ken Edwards announced that the next AFC District II meeting will be in Walker County on Thursday, January 28.  

 

EMA – Director Don Roybal thanked all the departments that responded during the Christmas Day flood event.  FEMA is gathering damage estimates and will make a decision if Blount County will be considered for a disaster declaration.  He asked that all departments keep detailed man hours and equipment hours related to your emergency response.  EMA is still looking for names of department members that need to be involved in an ICS 300 & 400 training class.  Fuelman for November was at 93% of monthly budgets; December at 72%; and the 1st QTR of FY2016 at 80% - all good numbers.  Reminder that reports are due weekly on Monday.  Please try to submit your reports to prevent mid-week reminders.  

 

9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – Operations Manager Neal Brooks reported that specific medical issues are now listed on each medical CAD call.  EMT Academy starts this month with 17 registered.  Con-ed on Comms classes can be for two hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRAINING – Locust Fork will host a TIMS class.  Mt High will start a 160 class in March.  Hanceville Fire will host a 160 class starting January 19.  Chief Willis recommended any who can to apply for a spot to attend the Leadership Blount County Program sponsored by the Blount County / Oneonta Chamber of Commerce.  Email any training items to Training Officer Tim Frye, Jr. and he will put them on the website.  Friends & Family CPR training will be held at Station 12 on January 14.

 

FIRE PREVENTION – If anyone is interested in coordinating the Fire Prevention program, please email or notify an Association officer. 

 

FORESTRY – Forestry Project Specialist Terry Helms advised that the AFC grant papers are due Tuesday, January 12.  He can set up local training for the S130 / S190 wildland firefighting classes if 15 people commit to attend.  These classes are required if your department submits a grant request under the specific AFC Fire Equipment Grants.       

 

          SPECIAL OPS – No report.  

 

ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report.     

 

BREMSS – John Reed said the new protocol reviews should have been completed by December 31.  The State EMS Department is hiring new EMS inspectors to increase the timeliness of EMS Department inspections.  

 

Blount EMS – Tammy asked that you be patient with any new faces you might see on the trucks.  When possible, please make room for the ambulance to load patients as close as possible to the residence.  She has been getting some complaints from patient families and will try to accommodate them as much as possible.  

 

AMED – No report.   

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT – No report.

 

CORONER – No report.  

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY – No report

 

LIFESAVER – Don Wilson reported that there are changes that will allow Life Saver to carry some blood products not previously allowed, specifically clotting agents.  LZ and EMS classes are available if requested.  

 

AIR-EVAC – No report.

 

RED CROSS – There is a change in protocol when requesting Red Cross           assistance at a fire scene.  Much more information is needed by Red Cross than just address     and # of affected     residents.  Neal Brooks suggested that someone on the fire scene call the          911 Center by         phone as that is too much information to transmit over the radio.   

 

GOOD & WELFARE – No report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:  

l   Jon reminded anyone interested to submit nominations for full scholarship attendance for the FDIC Training.

l  Explorer Post information will be presented at the February meeting.

l  Need names to be submitted to attend the Fire Chiefs Conference in Tuscaloosa on February 2-5.  The Association can send 3 and Tommy at DEC has donated one slot.

l  AED updates and the Health Care Authority grant was discussed.  So that consistency, uniformity and price breaks can be shared across the County, it was suggested that all departments purchase the same model AED as what is used at STV-Blount.  STV-Blount has agreed to replace pads at no costs to fire departments.  A motion from Assistant Chief Edwards was offered to purchase the Zoll AED + unit at $989.00 per unit off of the BREMSS bid list.  After a second from Chief Ellenburg, the motion passed by voice vote.  Since the HCA grant was for $1200.00 per unit, the HCA will be asked if we can purchase additional units with the leftover budget.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

l  Chief Willis mentioned a bill pending legislative action that will reduce the number of fire service representatives on the Alabama Ambulance Association from 4 to 1.  This bill may require action from the Fire Service.

l  If you have training planned, please submit your training course application to Skip at the Alabama Fire College to insure credit is given.

l  Alabama Public Safety Leadership information and applications are on the Alabama Fire College website.

l  Bangor Fire Department has earned an ISO Rating of 3.

l  Discussions about how to use the additional designated Training Funds centered on AED training, CPR trainers, additional books for the curriculums we currently have in the library and CPR mannequins.  John Reed will present an equipment proposal from BREMSS.

 

 

 

 

The next meeting will be February 4, 2016 at the West Blount Community Center.                The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by Southern Care Hospice.