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Cheatham County Firefighters Association
P.O. Box 95,
Ashland City, Tennessee 37015
Shane Ray, President Brent Stuart,
Vice President
Jeff Bagwell, Secretary Derek Noe,
Treasurer
Membership Meeting
September 24, 2008
Call to order at: 19:06 By:
Pres. Shane Ray
Roll Call:
Ashland City
Present EMS Absent
Kingston
Springs Present
EMA Absent
Pleasant
View Present
911 Present
Pegram
Present
Two
Rivers Present
Henrietta Present
Harpeth
Ridge Absent
Approval of Minutes:
President Ray noted minor
corrections to the minutes. Chief Stuart entered the motion to approve,
Chief Walker provided a second, and with a voice vote requested by
President Ray, the minutes were approved.
Treasurers Report
President Ray questioned
if the $250,000 donation would come in January 2009. Chief Walker
confirmed it would. Chief Ivey entered a motion to approve the
Treasurer’s report, Chief Stuart provided a second, and with a voice
vote requested by President Ray, the treasurer’s report was approved.
Partner Reports
EMS
EMA
E-911
Director Joe Cook reported
the dispatch center will be using a new cad system beginning the
following Thursday afternoon. The incident times can not be faxed to
the departments like they have been in the past, but they may be able to
email them. Chief Stuart asked if changes were on dispatch end, and not
the fire departments. Director Cook confirmed.
Discussion occurred
concerning the possible purchase of Firehouse interface software
estimated at $5,500 with $1,375 yearly maintenance fee. This program
will use a VPN account to update the fire departments Firehouse
software. Director Cook will provide more information before the next
meeting.
A memo of understanding
has been created between 911 and County officials regarding the EMDs.
Expected to have all signatures, and be in place on Jan. 1, 2009.
Initial cost is $12,000, with EMS and Fire splitting the yearly
technical support of $1,600. Chief Walker asked why EMS and Fire needed
to pay, since it is for dispatch operations. Director Cook replied the
State will reimburse the initial $12,000 but not the yearly fees. Chief
Walker asked if 911 paid for the current software in use, and Director
Cook replied it was provided by a grant. Chief Walker said he is
willing to ask 911 to cover the costs instead of the fire association.
Chief Ray added since 911 was receiving funds through phone bills, then
everyone pays the expense. Director Cook replied that 911 would
probably be willing to pay, but wanted to ask the Association and EMS.
Chief Ray said Mayor Orange should be approached, and then the fees
could come from EMS.
Director Cook said the
fire and law enforcement portions can go in without many changes, but
not the medical. He said all the questions presented to a caller will
be the same. Chief Bagwell asked about if the VPN would work with
dialup internet connection, and Director Cook replied he will check on
it.
Chief Walker stated it
would be great to have the software because it inserts all the
information in the firehouse report. Chief Stuart asked if fire
departments will be able to change our report. Director Cook replied we
would, but any changes will not affect the dispatch copy of the report.
Director Cook followed up
on the issue of emailing the incident times. He said MSN messenger
could be used, and the information could be available as soon as units
returned to their stations. Chief Ray added the value would be to have
the times available when they return from the call in order to complete
the run ticket.
Director Cook asked if
there were an EMS module in the Firehouse program, and it was mentioned
that EMS uses another system to report their calls.
Golf Tournament and Memorial Donation
Ms. Pritchett presented
golf shirts to each fire chief, discussed the bags each player would
receive that will include t-shirts with all department logos, golf
balls, and other items. These items were donated by Sunrise
Promotions. Chief Walker added that we need to remember them for future
purchases of shirts.
Ms. Pritchett reported
that $6,200 had been received. There are 27 hole sponsors, and the only
expenses so far are the hole sponsors signs at $14 each, and shirts for
$280. Still have some outstanding money to come in and we should expect
to receive $8,600 total. Using these numbers we would be able to give a
$7,000 donation to the memorial after expenses.
Chief Walker entered a
motion to pay up to $750 to the vendors for tournament items, Chief Ivey
provided a second. President Ray requested a roll call vote, and with
all member departments voting in favor, the motion was approved.
It was suggested by golf
course staff, that since high cash prizes were being provided, cheating
will be an issue. It would be good to have two teams per tee box, to
have some checks and balances. President Ray had received a suggestion
to flight the tournament to help cut down on the possibility of
cheating. Another option was to have a drawing for the $500 prize to
make it equal. Putting contest will be done, and another contest could
be set up on the driving range using circles, so that anyone can
participate.
The “goody” bags will be
prepared at PVFD on Thursday evening, with everything but the T-shirts.
These will be selected by size when the players register. Chief Walker
said help will be needed on the day of the tournament, for registration
and other duties.
Chief Stuart asked if
shirts be available for sale. Ms. Pritchett said they would once all
players were registered. He then asked what time people needed to
arrive to assist in setting up, and President Ray replied the activities
would begin at 09:00.
Standing and/or Special Committee Reports
Communications
Training
President Ray reported
that the lights and poles have been installed at the training grounds,
but weed killer was needed. Chief Walker said that Ashland City public
works buys Knockout brand in drums.
President Ray said the
containers had arrived and some are in bad shape.
Wendall Nicholson was
providing a cost for installation of electric service and meter box.
Chief Haggard asked if it was a temporary service connection. President
Ray said it will be a breaker panel similar to the arrangement used at
Balthrop Park in Pleasant View.
President Ray reminded
personnel to visit the Association website. Recruit video is available,
and the site is expected to include basic training online. He said the
recruitment class would not be doing the 280 training hours like
previous years. It was reported that ACFD will be having basic
firemanship and First Responder class paid from the grant recently
received, and open slots will be available to other departments.
Lt. Hutchison Fire School
training will be November 15th at Greenbrier High School. Instructors
will be from across the state, and training will include: EVOC, pumper
operations, strategy and tactics. Money raised will be for the Lt.
Hutchison foundation. There will also be a raffle for gear, helmets,
and other items.
President Ray mentioned
the need to identify people on the industrial board and present our
training site request.
Planning
No report
State Mutual Aid Plan
Chief Walker said he
needed to get resource list from each department. President Ray said
there are now two forms to be completed. Chief Walker said he will be
sending electronic versions to Chief Bagwell to provide to each
department by email.
President Ray said we need
to decide how we will respond on the forms. Chief Ivey asked bout a
similar questionnaire recently received, and Chief Walker replied it was
not the same.
President Ray explained
the difference in mutual aid, and EMAC requests. Chief Ivey stated that
should a request be for a response outside their area, he couldn’t
commit a full crew, but between KS and Pegram they could. President Ray
said that is the issue, and we shouldn’t list that all departments could
go, but that response would be from the County fire service. Chief
Stuart added that we should use the next meeting to identify how we can
provide the information. Chief Walker confirmed his thoughts that our
response to the resource list should be for the whole county, and that
we could determine the resources to commit. Chief Stuart then followed
up by asking if one list should be for the entire county, and President
Ray replied that each department’s resources need to be listed. Chief
Walker added the responses will show what is available in the entire
county.
November Meeting
Chief Walker asked if the
November 24th association meeting could be used to host a
meeting of the District 7 chiefs. He said it would be good to meet and
help share information for our region. Discussion occurred as to a
location that could support up to 50 people. District 7 includes
Robertson, Cheatham, Dickson, Montgomery, Houston Stewart and Humphreys
counties. The meeting could be held at ACFD Station 2, but it might be
better to hold the meeting at a location in Kingston Springs due to the
proximity of I-40.
Chief Stuart entered a
motion for the Association to host a District 7 fire chief meeting, and
Chief Ivey provided a second. Chief Ivey then asked how to announce the
meeting. Chief Walker said it would be announced at the next regional
meeting, and that law enforcement generally has good participation, but
the fire service doesn’t because of the number of volunteers.
President Ray requested a
voice vote, and with all in favor, the motion is approved.
Recruitment and
Retention
Fire Department Reports and Requests
Ashland City
Chief Walker mentioned
that their recruitment program was targeting people outside of the
county. The idea was to allow people to come in for shift work. They
are trying to get a certain number of recruits then any extras can go to
other departments if needed. Chief Stuart added they are doing
something similar with their recruits from the recent “booter” class.
Chief Walker said they have 3 more years of ads in the grant, and if
they can get their quota, then the ads could be changed to be for
Cheatham County. He said any recruits from within the County would be
referred to the local fire department. Discussion occurred over the
recent radio advertisements. President Ray said the program was good to
get recruits involved, and possibly help them in their future careers.
Chief Walker added that it would be good to get those who have continued
with careers outside of the County to meet, and use it as an
advertisement that they started their careers in Cheatham County.
Kingston Springs
Pleasant View
Pegram
Chief Stuart announced
they only used $3,207.50 of their funds for their recent tuck purchase.
He then mentioned that an LED Light bar and siren had been identified
for $1,450.00 based on State contract price. Chief Stuart requested up
to $1,600 for these items. Chief Ivey entered a motion to approve this
expenditure, and Chief Bagwell provided a second. President Ray
requested a roll call vote, and with all member departments voting in
favor, the motion is approved.
Chief Ivey mentioned that
Metro Nashville contacts might have a better price, and this should be
explored before a final vendor is chosen.
Two Rivers
Chief Haggard announced a
class would be held for suicide prevention. He provided a brochure for
the course, and President Ray said it should count for the domestic
violence class requirement.
Henrietta
Harpeth Ridge
Old Business
New Business
IRC
Meeting
The recent vote at the
meeting in Minneapolis to include residential fire sprinklers in the IRC
was successful, and will become effective in 2011. Chief Ivey added
that it was good to see this issue come full circle. He added that the
exposure from Fire TEAM was what carried the vote, and that almost
everyone in attendance, had connections to Fire TEAM.
Tent
Proposal
President Ray provided the
October 2007 cost estimates on tents. He said there has been a need to
have the tents available. He presented his idea to set up another event
trailer, to include a tent, tables and chairs for an estimated $10,000.
Discussion occurred concerning cost recovery and scheduling conflicts.
Chief Walker stated our current tent needed repairs, and asked if the
proposed event trailer would be funded from the general fund. President
Ray said a decision was not needed now, but we could have it ready in
the Spring. Chief Walker added that the event trailers were good for
public relations, but it can be difficult on personnel. President Ray
said we can’t charge enough to recoup cost when calculating fuel, staff,
etc. Chief Ivey asked bout usages fees, and Allen Nicholson replied
that $500 was the fee, which included $300 deposit returned if no damage
to the tent/chairs/table, $100 to department setting up the tent,
and$100 to the Association.
Chief Stuart asked to
delay a decision, and Chief Walker agreed but said we should pursue
setting up an additional event trailer.
Motion to adjourn was entered by Chief Stuart, and
seconded by Chief Fisher.
Board Meeting
President Ray called the
Board of Directors meeting to order, and requested a roll call. A
motion to approve the actions of the membership was entered by Chief
Walker and seconded by Chief Stuart. President Ray requested a voice
vote, and with all members voting in favor the motion is approved.
Chief Stuart entered a
motion to appoint Chief Richard Haggard to the vacant position on the
board, and Chief Walker provided a second. President Ray requested a
voice vote, and with all members voting in favor the motion is approved.
A motion to adjourn was
entered by Chief Stuart, seconded by Chief Walker.
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