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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-1999 Meeting I PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - October 11, 1999 3:30 p.m. PRESENT: F. Handy, Chairman, B. Kuhlke, W. Mays, S. Shepard members; J. Brigham, Commissioner; R. Oliver, Administrator; J. Wall, Attorney; ChiefR. Few, Fire Department; S. Hatfield, Sheriffs Dept.; D. Collins, Finance; C. Rushton, IT Director; L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: B. Young, Mayor. ALSO PRESENT: S. Cooper, Augusta Chronicle, S. Eidson, Metro Spirit. Clerk: We have a request to add three items to the agenda: Approve Change Order #5 to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. Approve Change Order #6 to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. I Approve Change Order #10 (will be Change Order #7) to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. Mr. Kuhlke: I move we add them to the agenda and approve them at the same time. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request to approve an agreement to deputize members of the Richmond County Board of Education Police Force. I Mr. Hatfield: This is a request from the Board of Education. Dr. Lark and Major Mike Farrell who is the supervisor of all the certified law enforcement people in that arena. Major Farrell has asked the Sheriff permission to swear and give the oath of office for deputy sheriff for twelve people from corporal position to major position. The Sheriff is asking your permission to give them the oath of office as deputy sheriffs of ARC. This incomes as a request from the Board of Education themselves indicating special events that they go out and work such as football and basketball games. A lot of times they travel outside our community representing the BOE. They provide the security for the team members and some of the personnel. They will also be available for us if we were to need additional personnel for some event here in our community. Mr. Shepard: I move approval. I Mr. Oliver: I think this is a good idea but I have one question. If we catch a civil rights claim because of this, are we fully indemnified by the BOE~ Mr. Wall: The agreement spells out that they are responsible for the claim. Mr. Hatfield: There is an agreement that has been prepared by our legal council. I have read it and I think it is a very satisfactory agreement to both sides. Mr. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request to approve the Augusta Richmond County Fire Department to be the primary emergency agency for extrication services within Augusta Richmond County. Chief Few: What I'm asking is that the Fire Department be allowed to perform extrication. In the years past the University Hospital was given the right to do the extrication within our community. I know that Rural Metro has been providing those services for them. Extrication is a natural service generally goes under the fire service in I any city. This is the only city that I've ever seen do it different. I have spoken with Rural Metro and it is one that we whole the prirnary license for extrication. I would like to see us now put this particular service under the .ARC Fire Department. There is a $250 fee that we would charge for this and insurance companies will pay for this. Our fire department personnel have been trained in that area. Mr. Oliver: My understanding is that Rural Metro is in agreement with this, is that correct? Chief Few: Yes. Ernie and I have had the conversation about that and we've looked at it. He agrees that it's a fire department function and should be housed within the fire services. Mr. Oliver: You have the equipment to do this? Chief Few: Yes. But they have given me two sets and there maybe a third one. It has been a good agreement between both of us and [ know we'll continue to work together. Mr. Kuhlke: Jim, is there anything we need to do a little stronger than this to make sure that everyone that works in this field within the community understands? I I Mr. Hunter: I am a former EMA Director so I can answer that. Extraction is handled two ways in Georgia. It's through a licensed rescue agency and Rural Metro is a licensed rescue agency in Richmond County. The other way is, there is an exemption for local government so the only way that any other entity, other than a local government can provide rescue in Richmond County is to be licensed through your Emergency Management Agency by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Currently, Rural Metro is the only licensed squad in Richmond County and so before anyone Gold Cross or a plant or the airport, anybody that was going to provide rescue services within the geo-political boundaries would have to be licensed through your EMA office and through Georgia Emergency Management. We still intend to keep our license issued to us by the state and keeping it current. But we would defer to the Fire Department for primary extrication services. If they were not available and our equipment was available that would be happening. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Mays: Second. Motion carried unanimously. I A request to approve the salaries of nine (9) Augusta Richmond County Fire Department Dispatchers to be paid from revenues generated from the special fee levied on cellular phones in Augusta Richmond County and direct corresponding decrease in expenses. Chief Few: In the past when I've come to you I was told that you would probably allow me to use the cellular telephone fund to pay for the nine dispatchers. Currently that does not unobligate me to the 911 Center because there are some other bills that we get. What this does is pay for all the employees that are housed in the 911 Center. Currently the Sheriff and I have been in discussion about how we're going to take care of the 911 situation. I think now is the time were have collected some funds from the cellular phones that at least we need to pay for all the dispatcher and the workers down there first. So, I'm asking that you approve that we pay for the nine dispatchers down there on the Fire Department side so that all the employees of the 911 Center will actually be paid for. And that we don't exclude anyone that works in the building for being paid out of the 911 fund. Mr, Kuhlke: I move approval to get it on the 1100r. Mr. Oliver: There is not enough revenue there to do this. Mr. Mays: Second. I Mr. Kuhlke: It's my understanding that the cellular phone fee was going to take care of the $300,000 deficit that we presently have with the 911 Center. NIr. Oliver: We have $350,000 budgeted, I believe for cellular phone revenues. According to state law. seventy percent of it could be used for operations. thirty percent I has to be used for capital enhancements for a GPS system which is a positioning system to know where the cell phone call is coming from. Based on our current projections, we t~,irj( we'U ge! :he :>250.000. I bcw Chief Few is hopeful it'll be more than that and I think ultimately it will. Weare in serious negotiations with one of the cell phone providers as it relates to remittance of the fee. But at this point, we think we can only budget $350,000 and all of the revenue in the 911 Center is spent. While I agree with the Chief all this should be funded out of the 911 Center. To fund these currently out of the 911 Center will throw the Center into a deficit which we cannot do. I think this should be sent back to the 911 Committee with the committee having some authority to look at putting both sides of this together. Right now the 911 revenue is not sufficient to cover the expense and the only olher alternative would be come to the General Fund which would necessitate an increase in revenue. NIr. Kuhlke: I think our first order of business is to make the 911 Center self sufficient, I think that's our obligation. This may be a progression type thing that we have to take a look at. But basically, what I would like to say at this point, is and it's not going to do what you want to do right now. But, I would like to amend my motion, that any funds in excess of the $350,000 this year, be applied to the Fire Department. You may not catch up until next year. I think that our obligation this year is to neutralize that 911 area over there. 1vIr. Shepard: What about this recommendation that consolidated balance budget be prepared jointly by the Fire Department and the Sheriffs Department. Since it is nearing budget time, I think we should address this in the coming budget~ How do you feel about that Chief? I Chief Few: The Sheriff and I have talked about that. I think we are still working on that and we have not come to a consensus on exactly the plans that we feel we need to use. I submitted some plans and I don't think they thought those were in their best interest so we got away from it for a while and I haven't gotten back with him. After further discussion, Mr. Shepard: Is the amended motion accepted? !vIr. Mays: I'll accept the second on Mr. Kuhlke's motion. Mr. Oliver: That cell phone revenues over $350,000 go to the Fire Department for 911 services provided up to the extent of eligibility. My suggestion is to ask the Fire Chief and the Sheriff and the EMA Director ifhe so desires to sit down together and bring back a balanced budget for the 911 Center as part of the 2000 budget. Mr. Kuhlke: I'm saying that it is our responsibility to have a neutral budget in 911. My motion is that what we have now and what we have coming in this year, lets I I balance the budget. As you go forward, anything over and above the $350,000 we get this year will go to the Fire Department, in the cell phone part. But, that committee which is the Sheriff, basically, and the Fire Chief should come back to us. Motion carried unanimously. A request to approve hiring one (1) Administrative Assistant for the Fire Department Training Division with the beginning salary to be $22,202. (Funded by extrication fees) Mr. Kuhlke: I move approval. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request to approve a 30-month lease at $450 per month to purchase 10 each 8.8GB disk drives needed for HP VII. Mr. Shepard: So move. I ~1r. Kuhlke: Second. Motion carried unanimously. A request to approve an expenditure of $23,800 for providing data communications and computer equipment to the Fire Department Training Division on Reynolds Street. Mr. Kuhlke: So move. Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss. the meeting was adjourned. I Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission I ADDENDUM PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA October 11,1999 3:30 P. M. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 1. Approve Change Order #5 to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. 2. Approve Change Order #6 to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. 3. Approve Change Proposal #10 (will be Change Order #7) to the contract for Lock Replacement at the JLEC on 401 Walton Way. I I