Location: Cleveland
Date: March 6, 2025
Time: 1900
BCFEMSA MARCH MEETING MINUTES
Attendance:
● Representatives from each department were accounted for: Allgood, Bangor,
Blount County Rescue Squad, Blountsville, Brooksville, Cleveland,
Dallas-Selfville, Holly Springs, Locust Fork, Mt. High, Murphree Valley, Nectar,
Oneonta, Pine Mountain, Remlap, Ricetown, Rosa, Royal, Snead, Straight
Mountain, Summit, Susan Moore, West Blount
● Members NOT present: All departments present and accounted for
● Associate Members present:EMA, 911 Board, AAC, Special Ops, Lifeguard,
BREMSS, Forestry, State Fire Marshal, Alabama Fire College, Coroner, Jr. FF
Camp
● Associate Members NOT present: 911, Training, District Attorney, Law
Enforcement, Air Transport Providers, Red Cross, VOAD
Guests: Ryan Vidischak (HomePro & Restoration)
Previous Minutes Approved:
● Motion to Approve: S. Payne 2nd: J. Head
● Unanimous
Financial Report:
● Motion to Approve: S.Payne 2nd: J. Head
● Unanimous
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Chairman:
● Attend Televate Meeting
● West Blount will be putting on a 160 class- 12 seats; open to 3 or 4 more
● West Blount has a thermal drone now available
AAC:
● Met twice since last meeting- J. Head is no longer with the AAC. Ryan
Alexander voted to take place
● Been going through the contract
● Forward all suggestions to T. Seehusen
● If you need a copy of Ambulance contract reach out to Clay Jones
● LGA has not paid penalties to date; will be a breach of contract if not paid
● Gary Burns will follow up with responsible party
EMA:
● Fuelman- $100,000 yearly budget, monthly $8,300
● As of date: $35,831
-Jan: $7,900
-Feb: $5,300
-Mar: $2,100
● Homeland Security Grant: April 1st-May 15th, available online
- Reimbursement 100%
-FEMA approved equipment list available
-Max: $200,00 Min: $10,000
-Must be on items used to prevent or use against terrorism
● If you are not part of a township, notify D. Royal, commissioner will
sponsor
-Townships: Grant class offered and will give bonus points
● D. Horton has checks
● April 15th there will no longer be Nixle to send notification. Regroup will
replace Nixle. Be sure to sign up for Regroup if you haven’t yet.
-Mobile app available
-Will allow two way communication
-Take all questions to D. Royal or D. Horton
911 Board:
● Televate gave (3) different scenarios to choose
1.) $4.8 million on services. 4 more towers
2.) $2.9 million N70 through motoroyla with VHF backup
3.) $1.3 million First Net with VHF backup possible
-$178,000 per year
-New repeaters, radios, and antennas
● EMA has FirstNet mobile tower-Starlink
● Include 4 people from association to represent in choosing
LGA:
● Gary Burns spoke with Josh Spencer during meeting, who stated he has
not received penalty notice, to resend it and it will be handled
● Brand new truck in service in Oneonta; 2nd new truck to be in service soon
BREMSS:
● End of month deadline for license renewal
● CEU hours available through website
● Invisible Disabilities training:
-EMS every year, starting next year
-Fire every other year
-Unknown if both, when or how often to renew.
-Must go through Culture City
-Instructor schedule online
Forestry:
● A lot have asked about citing burning that gets out of hand
-People who are burning without a permit are breaking the law
-Must involve local law
-Can bill negligent people, who cause fire, for suppression
-No arrests: it is a restriction; not a total ban
● Two things:
1.) Decent amount of damage to structures can make them take full
responsibility
2.) Multiple calls from the same individual for setting fires can generate
bills, but no guarantees
● Classes- 13 individuals needed to put on class in Blount County. Reach out
to M. Tucker to discuss at next meeting.
● March 4, 2025 set a record of 181 fires statewide.
State Fire Marshal:
● Caleb Walker- been over Blount County for approximately 5 months
● REMINDERS: Instances to notify Fire Marshal
-FATALITIES
-Churches/places of worships
-schools/educational facilities/daycares
-Any civilian and or FF injuries
-Bombs, explosions, fireworks, ANYthing suspicious
-Notify C. Walker with any questions
● In regards to new venues for public assembly- Chiefs do have the authority
to inspect in their jurisdiction
AFC:
● Reach out to Fire College on injuries/deaths
● Basic Wildland Firefighting class- 16hrs, taught by Forestry. Will get a
certificate from both AFC and Forestry
● Jr FF Camp- Good for (7) props
● Will be going to Web Testing
-If you are teaching a class, students will have to “check in” on the first day
of class
● If you want props, there are several open dates in fall. Notify M. Hill to
schedule
● New curriculum - will have new books as of Jan. 1, 2026
Coroner:
● Vapes are being laced and loaded with substances that are related to
overdoses
● Hoping for Oct 2025 for Legacy of HOpe to do training on SIDS or other
topic TBA
Jr FF Camp:
● Need sponsors for funding
● Bring personal donations in May & they will be matched
● Discussed financial statement/budget
● June 2-5, 2025
Guest Speaker:
● Ryan Vidischak (HomePro & Restoration)
-Discussed cooking for Jr FF Camp
● Had 8 calls in 13 days- 5 displaced homeowners were placed in fully
furnished homes within 24hrs or less
● If you can not get ahold of Ryan, reach out to H. Stockton
● New building across from Clay City Hall- stop by for breakfast & lunch on
Tues. & Thurs.
Special Annoucements:
● West Blount now has a thermal drone. Reach out to C. Jones
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: None
Motion to Adjourn: (Motion: S. Payne 2nd: C. Hill