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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-1998 Meeting I I I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - April 23, 1998 3:30 P.M. ',. ~~ PRESENT: F. Handy, Chairman; B. Kuhlke, Vice Chairman; Mays, and Shepard, members; 1. Beard, Mayor Pro Tern; J. Brigham, U. Bridges, Commissioners; L. R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Legal Counsel; R. Few" Fire Chief; T. Snyder, Gold Cross/EMS. ABSENT: Larry. E. Sconyers, Mayor; M. Todd, Commissioner. ALSO PRESENT: S . Spirit, Lena Bonner, Clerk's Office. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle; S. Eidson, Metro Clerk of Commission and Belinda Brown of the The Clerk: We have a request for (2) two addendum items: (1) A request to approve an instructor for a First Responder Class. The instructor is from the Burke County Fire Department. Cost not to exceed $5,000. Funds are budgeted. (2) A request from Gold Cross Ambulance/EMS regarding the granting of a specific zone to Gold Cross. MR. SHEPARD: So move. MR. KUHLKE: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from the Fire Chief to approve an instructor for a First Responder Class. The instructor is from the Burke County Fire Department. Cost not to exceed $6,000. Funds are budgeted. Mr. Kuhlke: Can you tell me something about this. Chief Few: Most of the new people that come into fire service now are pretty much cross trained in EMS. The existing people in the department, to bring them up to a status, so that we can get them to the first responder level, I have met with the Region VI director and worked out a deal so that we could get some training for our people. This is important, because if some catastrophe was to come throueh this town, or disaster, I don't think I would have people properly trained in first aide to render that service. Anytime you have a municipality or metro area the size of Augusta you need to have people cross t:::-ained, ic is very unusual to have a one dimensional fire se~Tice in any cicy. In an assisting mode, the person '"ho actually will be rendering mest of your se~Tices during any kind or disaster, is going to be your fire se~fice. In order to do chac I have to bring them up to standard. We have just created a good training department and the cost have been cut to the bone. We also have two people who will be going through some instruct:or training wieh this program so we can gee to a first responder level. I think that our people need to be cross trained in EMS. And I amctrying to move toward that as cost effectively as we can. I Mr. Oliver: Funds are budgeted. I agree with the Chief, that I think it's beneficial for our firefighters to be able to respond. Because, as he indicated our people are there first in the case of an emergency, be it fire or if we had a natural disaster. Mr. Wall: I think this needs to be looked at from a legal stand point. There was a recent case, where there was a ruling that firefighters who are cross trained, lose that twenty-eight day cycle exemption. And you have to go under an eight hour work employee. I haven't researched it, because I didn't ~~ow that this was coming up. Chief Few: That's if they perform over 50% of their work as an EMS. But presently, we are not running EMS calls. so it: doesn't have any bearing on it. In fact:, when you get 120 hours of training from the Fire Academy, it mentions first: aide. So actually, if you're not doing anything over what you're doing now, it doesn't matter. Now when we start in the EMS, what I have to do is make sure that: not over 50% of my departmene is just: running EMS, and that: is going to be a factor later on. But, this is a good service to get into. Because fire departments are I strategically located throughout the city. If you're going to do anything as far as se~Tices to your citizens, you need to get into EMS. Because, you get: the benefit of an employee that is already in the fire station and personnel cost is the reason that drives the cost up. I'm up on all the information on this, and I know exactly what I'm doing on this. Mr. Wall: I saw this on my desk and I didn't remember enough of the requirements. I do remember they lost the case and had to start paying overtime. Mr. Oliver: We definitely don't want to get into position that we get out of the twenty-seven or twenty-eight day cycle. It should be conditional on that. I don't think we're in no position to make any decision as it relates to EMS services until a !lot of cost analysis and a lot of though goes into that. But, I think as a first responder training on a fire scene, I think that"s very appropriate, I also think that it's very appropriate in the case of a natural disaster, where the fire deDartment would be Dressed into service that they would be able to give some level of-care. MR. KUHLKE: I move that we approve the eXDenditure for this, with the conditien that it has no effect on t:he twenty-eight day cycle. Chief Few: 'Ne have money in the budget fer t:::-aining. Fi:::-st I MR. SHEP.~D: Second. ,. I I I Responder is not a level that you would start going out doing a lot of medical attention to people, that's the basic. When.you get that: patch, as arr-.EMT, that's when you start being an EMT. This class is to get people into .the base line. This is to get people Mr. Handy: This should not necessarily be on here, if you have money for training. If he works with the Administrator and the Attorney, then they should be able to handle this. We shouldn't be talking about this. Mr. Mays: With this being a $6,000 limit, I think he can approve $10,000. Mr. Handy: We need a motion to eliminate this. Because we don't need to discuss something and they can get together on. Mr. Kuhlke: I withdraw my motion. Mr. Shepard: I with draw my second. Mr. Handy: item. We're going to delete t:his and go on the next A request from the Attorney to approve a lease agreement between Augusta, Georgia and WRDW Channel 12 for lease of space on transmission tower in North Augusta, South Carolina. Mr. Wall: You all approved four lease agreements in so far as space on transmission towers for Channel 12, they drew up the agreements and everything was approved. When they got the agreements back, they realized that there was a mistake in the way they had drawn them up. The increase in rental payments will be an overall effect during the year of $3,474. They have not been paid for 1997 which is part of the reason that they were not real comprising. The significant increase is on the 350 foot tower. I sent it to Mr. Hewett in IT and he told me to go ahead and put it on the agenda. I thought we had paid 1997, but no monies were included in the 1997 budget. I'm asking for approval of a revised lease agreement for an additional $3,474. Mr. Shepard: Where is the money coming from? Mr. Wall: Mr. Hewett said he would take care of it out of his budget. MR. ~dLKE: So move. MR. SHEP.~: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request from Tom Synder on behalf of Gold Cross Ambulance/EMS regarding the granting of a specific zone to Gold Cross. Mr. Snyder: We are located on the south side at Wheeless Rd. and Highway 1. We are requesting an endorsement from this committee and the Commission that we be allowed to have a zone to operate in, in Richmond County. We will have to apply to the Region VI EMS Council and they will appoint a committee and make a recommendation. What we are asking you all today is that you endorse Gold Cross, if we are a licensed company. We have six ambulances and five or six wheel chair vans. We've been in business a year. If you would endorse us in participating in the county EMS and emergency services plan. I Mr. Oliver: get a call on .transferred to a How weuld you get your calls? Right now if we the 9l1, if it's an ambulance call it gets dispatch center that Rural metro operates. Mr. Snyder: Rural Metro would have to relay that call over. Mr. Oliver: Does Rural Met:ro have an exclusive, Jim? Mr. Wall: That's Dart of the contract that if there's, and I don't remember the specific language, but there is a provision in there, .they are handling the 911 calls for medical services. If this Region VI gives them a zone ... i I Mr. Kuhlke: Your request is for us to endorse subj ~ct to approval of the Region VI. Mr. Snyder: Yes, we will have to go But we would like your endorsement, participate in Richmond County emergency from here that we plan. to that region. as a company Mr. Kuhlke: My question, Jim, would be contractually, are we creating any kind of conflict with the contract that we have with Rural Metro at this point, or is our contract with the University Hospital? Mr. Wall: Our contract is with the University Hospital and they contract with Rural Metro. Our contract with University Hospital is primarily designed for indigent care and it was funded. I would have to go back and review the PSAP contract. My recollection is that there is a provision in that contract requiring them to call the closest ambulance. After reviewing the contract, if I see a conflict I'll let you know. I don't see a problem at this point as far as what they're asking for. MR. SHEPARD: I make a motion that we endorse their requese subject to approval of the Region VI 30ard. Mr. Beard: I t appears to me, i .;: _L I / m not miscaken, that I MR. KUHLXE: Secor.d. I I I Richmond Ambulance se~vice had this type of thing and I don't see any reason why this would be any conflict this could exist. I think that all ."the y, re asking for is that we g~ve some type of approval here so they can go on to the region land ask them with our backing. Mr. Oliver: I just want to make sure that we don't get into a position on 911 of trying to geographically stratify where those calls may go. As long as all the calls continue to go to Metro and we don't have to send half to Metro and half to Gold Cross. Mr. Wall: We don't have to do that. That was understood at the time we entered into that contract. We had already anticipated that problem. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission /bb