Rescue Squad Captains' Meeting - Special Called Meeting 060508

Activity: Rescue Squad Captains’ Meeting – SPECIAL CALLED MEETING

Date: June 5, 2008

Organizations Represented: Public Safety Administration

Squad 2/Franklin County Rescue

Squad 3/Ferrum Rescue

Squad 5/Callaway Rescue

Squad 6/Snow Creek Rescue

Squad 8/Fork Mountain Rescue

Squad 9/Red Valley Rescue

Squad 10/Scruggs Rescue

Squad 13/Cool Branch Rescue

Organizations Not Represented: None

Due to the nature of this meeting the following agencies were not in attendance:

Company 7/Boones Mill EMS (Billing through FCPS)

Squad 4/Glade Hill Rescue (Billing through FCPS

Squad 11/Dive Team (non-transporting agency)

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: Please find below a summary of the topics that were discussed and relevant information regarding those topics. If you have any questions, please contact your Rescue Captain for details.

Public Safety Director Daryl Hatcher opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for their attendance.

Mr. Hatcher explained that this was a special meeting to discuss revenue recovery and some limited discussion about the radio system.

Mr. Hatcher advised everyone that Public Safety was looking at ways to increase radio coverage throughout the County. He is looking at viable low band or high band paging system that could better serve all areas of the County. Test data will be collected using Red Valley Rescue Squad and Callaway Fire Company (if these agencies agree to participate). These agencies offer the extremes in coverage. At the present time, Red Valley has very good coverage and Callaway has poor to no service in many areas. Once it is has been determined what system would best fits the needs of the County, grant monies will be sought to purchase and upgrade the system.

Mr. Hatcher also advised that the next trucks to be ordered were a 2 wheel drive for Red Valley Rescue and a 4 wheel drive for Franklin County Rescue. He then turned the meeting over to Billy Ferguson to discuss Revenue Recovery.

Billy Ferguson presented data on revenue recovery money, a copy of which is attached and made a part of these minutes.

At a special meeting held in February 2008, three agencies indicated that their squads could not meet their financial obligations without their portion of the revenue recovery monies. These agencies were: Fork Mountain Rescue, Scruggs Rescue and Cool Branch Rescue. All other agencies indicated they would attempt to reach a consensus on the allocation changes.

At the present time, 45% or a maximum amount of 123,625.00 is earmarked as Volunteer Budget Enhancement. This $123,625.00 is divided between EMS agencies using a formula wherein each agency is given a base amount and then additional amounts are included depending on the number of calls ran by the agency.

Under the proposed plan, that 45% would have been changed to 0% with the exception of Fork Mountain Rescue and Cool Branch Rescue who would continue to receive the projected revenue recovery money. Scruggs Rescue would not receive any revenue recovery money but their mortgage debt would be retired under this plan. After the proposal there was much discussion about the issues which included but was not limited to: How the order would be determined for building replacement/upgrades? Would the volunteer agencies still be expected to prepare the billing paperwork? Where would the money come from for unexpected expenses? Mr. Hatcher advised that the County‘s obligation would be to purchase trucks, buildings and pay any expenses associated with answering calls and the squads’ obligation would be to run the call.

After much more discussion, it was determined that the current amount of 45% returned to the squads in the form of volunteer budget enhancement would be reduced to 5% and the division of this 5% would be detailed later. After this change, the proposal was accepted.

Questions and Comments

The meeting was adjourned.

SPECIAL NOTE: Under the proposal which is attached, you will notice at the bottom of the projected breakdowns page, it states that the mortgage at Scruggs will be paid by county and county will retain deed to building. Public Safety administration has turned the details of this transaction over to the County Administrator to work out as they deem necessary.