BCFEMSA Meeting

Location: Cleveland Community Center Date: 2026-07-09

Time: 7:01 pm

Attendance:

·        Representatives from each department were accounted for: Allgood, Bangor, Blount 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 (proxy), Susan Moore (proxy) and West Blount

·        Members not present: Summit

·        Associate Members present: EMA, 911, 911 Board, AAC, Ameripro, BREMSS, Coroner, Fire College, Forestry, Jr. Fire Camp, and Training

·        Members not present: Air Transport, DA, Law Enforcement, Red Cross, Special Ops, State Fire Marshall and VOAD

Guest: Southern Linc

Connie and Jessica spoke about the upcoming transition of the Southern Linc radios to the individual departments. New account information is needed by October 25th, service will begin November 1. Pricing is determined by what your department wants in their package. The current radio only service is $30.00 per month per device. There is an App option, price is $10.00 per month. The App can be uploaded on another cell carriers device however this must be monitored by the department should someone terminate. The current devices came with a 3 year warranty. Your first year is almost complete. If you choose to keep the device you will have two more years on the warranty. Battery warranty was for a year. Phone warranty covers everything but being lost. Connie mentioned if the phone is run over, damaged or water damage, place the phone in a zip loc bag and return it to her. Replacement cost is $99.00.

Previous Meeting Minutes (May 7, 2026)

Amend: one correction under New Business, 911 Board, Item #3.

3 departments without P25 service (Rosa, Ricetown and Mt High), change Mt. High to Blountsville

Motion to Amend May 7th minutes with correction First: John Head

Second: Scott Payne All approved

Motion to approve the May 7,2026 minutes as corrected First: Scott Payne

Second: John Head All approved

Financial Report

Motion to Accept Financial Report First: Scott Payne

Second: John Head All approved

Committee Reports:

Chairman

Met with State and US lobbyist for delegations. Exploring the option of one-time departmental appropriations for the purchase of portable radios and PPE. The conversation went well. Hope to have more information and details of obtaining congressional appropriation in January at next meeting.

A request was sent to the Healthcare Authority to continue HCA grants as well as requested additional funding to be earmarked for departments to pay for Southern Linc services. Information will be provided as available.

EMA

·        Fuelman on track with 12 more weeks till the end of September.

·        The Commission will go ahead and approve another $100,000 budget for next year.

·        Homeland Security Grant applications are due next Wednesday, July 15th.

·        LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) meetings will start back up. The meetings plan for emergencies at extremely hazardous substance facilities, going to an all hazard approach, plans for all events not just spills and leaks but also disasters, tornados and floods.

·        We met with the SERC (State Emergency Response Center) by law the SERC has to have an LEPC.

·        LEPC - There will be a Meet and Greet on August 12th at 9:00 am at the Multipurpose Center. We will work on a plan for the coming year and hopefully incorporate exercises for the county.

·        Rodeo is July 24th and 25th at the Multipurpose Center. Gates open at 4:00 pm. We need volunteers for parking beginning at 3:30 pm, 6 people per night. Incentive the Commission has agreed to pay each department per night $250.00 (Remlap has committed to Saturday) You will also get a free meal. Gates should close down at 7:30. If you want to volunteer please get with Don or David.

Treasury:

·        David has Landfill checks for everyone

·        Worker’s Compensation policy renewal has been sent in.

·        He still needs updated rosters from some departments

·        Need Annual dues

·        If your department needs a Worker’s Compensation Claim flyer see David

911

·        No report

911 Board

·        No report

AAC

·        Met with upper management with Ameripro to discuss issues with IFT transfers and also with separating the stats to ALS, BLS so we can keep better number on response times. We know the contact covers the ALS as far as response times

·        The letter has been sent to Ameripro for the AVL data

Training

·        Alabama Pipeline Emergency Response training August 6, 2026 at 18:00, Cleveland Community Center (approved by Fire College)

·        A request was made to the Alabama Fire College for the Burn trailer, last two weeks in March 2027

·        Centerpoint hosting and EVR Training on 7/20, 7/21 and 7/22 at 09:00.

Ameripro

·        Fully staffed

·        Four Lieutenants now, one for each shift. If there is an issue go to them first.

·        IFT truck operates 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Med40

BREMSS

·        Local government funding request went out to the Mayors and the fire chiefs were copied

·        Treat in place law was passed. A meeting is set with the Alabama Emergency Association to work on changes to protocol rules

·        Awards Banquet is October 15th at the Trussville Civic Center

·        Baptist South in Montgomery in now a Level One Trauma Center

Forestry

·        Grant checks if you have not deposited those checks make sure you do before the 15th

·        Trucks are starting to get turned in. We currently do have one about to go to Auction, if interested get with Matt

Fire College

·        EV Class: if Blount wants to host an EV Class, we will need 20 to 24 people in a class and it will be 6 hours, most classes are on Saturday

·        160 Class: kicking off the first of the month, if you want to get in a class please get in touch

The way they have it laid out, you can start this class and you can finish this class whenever you want to as long as you have a schedule that can handle all the testing and requirements in the process.

·        Commission meeting next week at the Fire College. Work Session is Tuesday, July 14th and Commission Meeting Wednesday, July 15th