BLOUNT COUNTY FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF AUGUST 6, 2015 MEETING
PINE MOUNTAIN 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, 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, Supervisor Neal Brooks and 911 Board Members Tim Kent, Dean Gilbert and Chief Bob Sanford
were also present.
GUESTS – John Wilson of NAFCO sponsored the meal and discussed their product line which now includes EMS and Law Enforcement supplies. BCSO Chief Deputy Bill Ferry, Operations Director Tim Kent and Lt. Ronnie Chastain were also present.
Chairman Head asked for the approval of the minutes of the July meeting. Motion by Assistant Chief Michael Walker, seconded by Chief Willis, and carried by voice vote. The Financial Report was approved by a motion from Chief Payne, seconded by Assistant Chief Walker, and carried by voice vote.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CHAIRMAN – Chairman Jon Head recognized the new Chief at Blountsville, Donnie Ellenburg. Vice-Chairman Ken Edwards reported on the recent AAVFD Conference. (See attached) Some of the issues discussed at the Conference were the 64 structure fire fatalities that have plagued Alabama. More attention will be given to fire prevention efforts state-wide with stickers on apparatus with the slogan: “Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention”. New competition rules will be posted on the AAVFD website soon.
EMA – EMA Director Don Roybal announced the Fall LEPC meeting will be held on Friday, September 4 at 0900 at the EOC. CSX will attend the September Fire Association meeting to discuss the possibilities of holding CSX Training in Blount County. The annual Smith Dam table top exercise was recently held with EMA, Mt. High and Ricetown participating. EMA has applied for a grant to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan which is required every 5 years. All agencies and municipalities will have a part in the update information.
9·1·1/COMMUNICATIONS – 911 Director Caleb Branch reported that new 911 map books are available. Call the Center to let them know how many to print. Operations Manager Neal Brooks said they will begin a new status check protocol on 30 minute intervals and he asked that you email your ideas to him concerning how best to accomplish that.
TRAINING – If you have resource books borrowed from the Training Library and are through with them, please return them to EMA so someone else may sign them out. Check the Training Website for opportunities and let Training Officer Tim Frye, Jr. know if you have additions or questions.
FIRE PREVENTION – Joe Ray Daily ask that you get him suggestions on what ideas you have for the Fair Booth. One suggestion was to highlight the CPR training similar to what was successful at the June Fling. Fair dates are September 15-19.
FORESTRY – Forestry Project Specialist Terry Helms reported that the Federal & State inspectors would be in Blount County on October 21 to inspect selected Federal surplus trucks and equipment on loan through Forestry. He urged everyone to make sure the unit is housed, serviced and insurance cards and service records be stored in the vehicles.
SPECIAL OPS – Chief Willis had no report.
ST. VINCENTS BLOUNT – No report.
BREMSS – John Reed advised that the American Heart Association will have updates out by October 15. He urged everyone to not buy any additional CPR material until March, 2016. TCC reports a lot of trauma system overload with reroutes where no notification by field units had been given. John urged everyone to call ahead from your scene as soon as possible to enter your patient and receive directives. ADPH Director Dr. Don Williamson has resigned. Ebola protocols should be to stop, stage and contact TCC to determine the actual threat. The Cardiac Science AED 9300 has reached the end of its service life. There are trade-in options. Overdose patients are no longer entered in to the system as psychiatric patients.
Blount EMS – Operations Manager Tammy Pierce says she has been contacted by schools for assistance to train athletic trainers for sports injuries. A Train-the-Trainer session will be held August 10 at Hoover Fire on Valleydale Road.
AMED – No report.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – Sgt. Investigator Fred Cochran thanked everyone for the working relationship you have with the BCSO and asked that you contact him if you need anything.
CORONER – Coroner Mark Vaughn thanked everyone involved that responded to his recent medical emergency.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY – Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey had no report.
LIFESAVER – No report.
AIR-EVAC – No report.
RED CROSS – No report.
GOOD & WELFARE – No report.
OLD BUSINESS:
l Association Sec/Treas Doug Smith advised that since there would be very few times annually where cash deposits were anticipated that the checking accounts should remain with BBVA/Compass Bank but if another issue arises, the matter will be revisited. Any change would be a minimum of $100.00 to change banks and order new checks.
NEW BUSINESS:
l The Blount County Health Care Authority (HCA) has approved the FY16 grants for equipment reimbursement at $1500 to all EMS departments. ALS departments can request an additional $1000. All invoices should be sent to the EMA office prior to May 31, 2016 for processing. Please do not send anything directly to the HCA. The HCA will pay on quotes. Send in your quotes for payment, make your purchases after receiving your money and send in your invoices to EMA. Invoices must match quotes exactly. To qualify using quotes, they must be received at EMA by March 31, 2016.
l BREMSS will be hosting their annual banquet on November 16 at the Pelham Civic Complex. Table sponsorship is $300 which is a budgeted item for the Association. A motion to purchase a sponsor table was offered by Chief Payne with second by Chief Hill and approved by voice vote.
l An Officer Nomination Committee was appointed consisting of Chief Netherton, Chief Payne and Chief Frye. They will put together a slate of nominations for Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Sec/Treasurer, Training Officer, EMT of the Year, Firefighter of the Year and Dispatcher of the Year. Special Ops will elect their own Commander. The Committee will report back at the September meeting and elections will be held at the October meeting.
The next meeting will be September 3, 2015 at St. Vincents-Blount Cafeteria. The meal will be at 6:30 sponsored by Kira Schnittker and STV-Blount.