Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Fires Services Workshop

January 17, 2017

4:00 p.m.

Present:               Sherrie Taylor, Chair, District 5

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1-arrived late

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Brenda Holt, District 4-arrived late

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

AGENDA ITEMS
1.	Welcome  Chair Taylor called the Workshop to order at 4:02 and said it was for a fire services workshop.  She asked everyone to stand for the Prayer and then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U. S. Flag.
GENERAL BUSINESS
2.	Overview of the Volunteer Fire Departments  Mr. Presnell said the workshop    Andre Walker, Fire Coordinator/Paramedic, appeared before the Board and gave a presentation.  Commissioner Viegbesie asked if they would ask questions at the end of his presentation or as he went along.  Chair Taylor said she would allow them to ask questions and thought to let him finish the presentation and they could then ask questions. Commissioner Holt arrived at this juncture of the meeting. He said they had a meeting last week with the Sheriff Department and they were looking into replacing all radio equipment and was still working on one side of the County where reception was real bad and they would be putting in a repeater.  He added at times, 911 calls have gone to Leon County and when the call would come in, they did not identify themselves and the caller did not realize the call had gone to Leon County.  After a meeting, they are now identifying themselves upon answering so the caller will realize they call has been routed to Leon.  Gadsden has always identified themselves when they answered the phone. He added they have applied for a grant to help with equipment and protective gear, have not heard back from grant yet. He said there were 2 options to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. Commissioner Hinson arrived at this juncture of the meeting. He explained the difference between the Local Firefighter Instructors Course and Florida State Fire College Online Course. He went over what the Local Instructors were proposing for the Firefighter 1 course and the complete costs was $9000. Currently funding was 50% of revenue generated by Small County Surtax. Liberty County adopted ½ cent sales tax November 2016; projected $250,000 per year; primary usage is to hire part time fire coordinator and upgrade vehicle; future plans to hire paid firefighters Leon County and Municipal Service Benefit Unit; seen on residents utility bills; fee based on size of homes Jackson County Jeff Price, appeared before the Board & gave funding options and what the current funding was for the volunteer fire departments. Chair Taylor said it was a well put-together presentation and they had several speaker request forms.  Morgan said they were pointing out 2 options of funding  V asked them to recall at previous meeting, he suggested they explore the creation of special fire services district; commended Andre for job well-done and said key word in unincorporated areas was “volunteer”; numbers were dropping and felt it was because they were not being paid.  Think need to do good assessment  Commissioner Holt asked about the MSBU tax-would be county-wide. She asked if they could not get what they wanted, could they do a step-plan; asked 2-3 things may need first year  Hinson said he felt the other commissioners hit on what he wanted to say and this was a very important issue.
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
	Rev. Shirlean Thomas, POB 21, Quincy, FL-Greenshade/Dogtown VFD  appeared before the Board, stand as proponent and supporter of VFD in Greenshade area & commend them for efforts they have put in Concerned because fire has taken 4 lives
	Linda Clemons, 621 David Clemons Road, Quincy, FL  32352-Greenshade/Dogtown VFD  Appeared before the Board, on behalf of District 2 Greenshade/Dogtown VFD, making small steps, have concerns; when turn on David Clemons Road, had 6 fires since 2010 and lost 4 lives in 1 fire.  Lot of homes are older homes and lived about 10 miles from volunteer fire department and 13-15 miles from major fire department.  Don’t even have fire hydrant close  V said one of the concerns Ms. Clemons raised was his concern about truck running out of water.  Knew her area was dead-zone and commended commission for purchasing 2 acres to build fire station Andre said when truck filled with water, is overflow reservoir  Hinson had comments  Holt said that area been dead zone forever.  Davin Suggs put together bond and used infrastructure dollars to put in fire station.  Asked how could coverage be gotten Gas tax quickest, easiest way to get funding  V said his understanding those tax fees were for transportation  Morgan appreciate opportunity for everyone to come together and discuss this-very important; thanked all volunteer firefighters for their services.  Been lot of talk how can fund additional dollars-first take step back at what doing now, may be better way to do, maybe not Significant need for communication on West side-need immediate attention Asked Andre if problem with trucks being at fires with no water-no How often meeting-started out once month-now meeting every quarter-have you considered having in different area
	Lester Beach, 333 Miller Road, Havana – Havana VFD County Truck replacement  Appeared before the Board-volunteer on Havana Fire Department-has oldest truck-holds 750 gallons of water-according to calculations-out of water in 2 minutes-putting request out to replace truck.
3.	Questions/Comments  Taylor said based on conversations-panel needed to be established; need Talquin there along with people that could bring in smorgasbord of people Taylor said petrified of fire tax-county not broke-think BOCC should put together panel and make part of regular meeting sessions Task Administrator to talk with Leon, Wakulla, Talquin – need answers in next month Asked Administrator if he heard what they said with regard to panel, moving forward with fire station, hydrants needed in certain areas  Holt asked Walker in using Wakulla had to use  V asked what could they do to work with Talquin to provide fire hydrants in needed areas-commended Gadsden United for providing funding for some of Greenshade volunteers background checks
MOTION TO ADJOURN  Adjourned 5:51 p.m.