MINUTES
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA |
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS |
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COUNTY OF HENDERSON |
SEPTEMBER 13,1999 |
The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners= Conference Room of the Henderson County Office Building at 100 North King Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Those present were: Chairman Grady Hawkins, Vice-Chair Bill Moyer, Commissioner Renee Kumor, Commissioner Don Ward, Commissioner Marilyn Gordon, County Manager David E. Nicholson, Assistant County Manager/Interim County Attorney Angela S. Beeker, Fire Marshal Rocky Hyder, and Clerk to the Board Elizabeth W. Corn.
Also present were: Dr. H. B. Norton, a member of the Fire Commission; Roger Snyder with Mills River Vol. Fire Department; Don Gash with Etowah-Horse Shoe Vol. Fire Department; and Gary Brown with Blue Ridge Vol. Fire Department.
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chairman Hawkins called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. He stated that the Board of Commissioners and representatives from the Fire Departments had met a short time ago and looked at several issues which needed revisited:
Changes in bylaws (revamping of Fire Commission)
New fire districts in year 2000
more people receiving fire protection
realigning revenue stream
At that time there was much discussion of the Fire Departments= budgets.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS= PRESENTATION
Roger Snyder presented the Fire Departments= presentation which was also in a hand-out distributed to the Board entitled A1999 Annual Report@. He spoke on behalf of the Association.
Henderson County Fire and Rescue Association
Leading the Community
Leveraging Dollars
Saving Lives
Looking to the Future
Community Services
(Leading the Community)
Fire Prevention Programs
Fire Education Programs in Schools
Honor/Color Guard Services
Traffic Direction
CPR Training Community Tours and Visits
Emergency Medical Supports for Blood Pressure Check-ups
Community Events Fire College
Smoke Detector Program Fire Extinguisher Classes
Fire and Medical Services
Fire Suppression Natural Disaster
First Responders Lost Person Search and Rescue
EMT Underwater Search and Rescue
EMT-D High Level Rescue
Hazardous Material Response Swift Water Rescue
Motor Vehicle Accident Response
Training Requirements
N.C. Firefighter II N.C. Haz Mat Ops
417 Hours, 30 Hours per Year 40 Hours, 8 Hours per Year
N.C. E.M.T. N.C. Driver/Operator
124 Hours, 24 Hours per Year 100 Hours, 12 Hours per Year
N.C. E.M.T.-D N.C. FF-II Instructor
24 Hours, 24 Hours per Year 64 Hours, 20 Hours per Year
ERT Basic Open Water
40 Hours, 20 Hours per Year
Flow of Money
Public Taxes ........................... County Collection Agent
Advisory Board
Fire Departments
Board of Directors
Department Heads
Chief --- Treasurer --- Vendor
Budget Process
(Leveraging Dollars)
Department Heads Fireman
Board of Directors --- Executive Committee --- Treasurer
Advisory Board
County
Mutual Aid
Fire Department in the center
with the following working with the department:
Other Fire Departments
Law Enforcement
Service Agencies
Henderson County Fire Marshal
Henderson County EMS
NC Fire Service
Emergency Management
Contingency Fund
Changes in Tax Base
Paid Staff Liabilities (Retirement, etc.)
Unexpected Capital Expense
Emergencies
Small Departments
Professional Business Practices
(Looking to the Future)
Association Committee Structure
Consistent Budget Process
Public Relations/Marketing Training
Public Relations Plan
Board of Directors Composition
Customer Service in 1999
Public Relations Plan in Each Department
Survey and Information Left at Each Call
Community Open Houses and Education
Expansion of Community Services
Complaint Process
Complaints
- - - Advisory Board - Commissioners
Department Chief
Changes in Volunteerism
Younger Generations Less Likely to Volunteer
More Training and Certification Demands on Volunteers
Aging Volunteer Population
Junior Program
Paperwork, State Imposed
Roger stated that they have this presentation ready for groups who might be interested in viewing it.
There was more discussion regarding:
Typical E-911 Computer Screen
911 Call Flow
Fire Departments - Tax Rate
Fire Departments - Property Values
Fire Departments - ISO/DOI
Fire Departments - Insurance Saving
Fire Departments - Regulatory Authority
Engine/Pumper Cost Analysis
Fire Departments - Training
Fire Departments - Misc. Expenses 1998
Fire Departments - Assets 1998
Fire Departments - Community Savings
Fire Departments - Income
Fire Departments - Annual Call Comparison
Fire Departments - Annual Call Reports
Chairman Hawkins thanked Roger and all the departments for their hard work in compiling the information shared at this meeting.
BY-LAWS
Jimmy Gasperson had been scheduled to make a recommendation on revised by-laws. Mr. Gasperson was out of town; therefore, Dr. H.B. Norton made the recommendation. Dr. Norton stated that there was an overwhelming desire on the part of firefighters to leave the Fire Commission as is. If the Board of Commissioners desires to make a change then revised by-laws have been drafted to reflect such.
Draft By-laws were distributed and discussed briefly. Chairman Hawkins asked the Commissioners to review the by-laws and make any suggestions or recommendation to him.
There was some discussion as to AWhat is an emergency call?@ and the possible need for some p.r. about this and the possibility of setting up an information line to handle non-emergency calls.
Chairman Hawkins again thanked those who were present and participated in the discussions. Dr. Norton thanked the Board for the opportunity.
Chairman Hawkins adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
ATTEST:
Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board Grady Hawkins, Chairman