November 28, 2023, Minutes.

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Northwest Georgia Fire Chiefs Association
Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2023
Calhoun, Georgia
Host:  City of Calhoun Fire Department
Scribe:  T. Prather, Secretary
10:00 AM Meeting Called to Order – Darrell Mitchell

  • Welcome:
    • Fire Chief Lenny Nesbitt, Calhoun Fire Department
    • Calhoun City Manager
  • Pledge of Allegiance – Chief Darrell Mitchell
  • Invocation – Ronnie Cowart
  • Chief Mitchell
  • Provided an overview of the Training Meeting held prior to the regular meeting.
  • Reminded everyone to please ensure that their contact information is updated.
  • Meeting Minutes (September) – Chief Mitchell
  • Reported that the meeting minutes from September were received and reviewed. Motion from Glenn Davis to approve, received a second and approved.
  • TREASURERS REPORT – Chief Mitchell (Chief Davis not present)
  • Previous ending balance $6,524.88
  • Deposits: 00
  • Expense: 00
  • Ending Balance $6,532.88

Chief Brock submitted motion to accept report, second and passed.

Agency Reports

GFSTC – Christina Tipton

  • Reported they are currently working on validation for confined space training.
  • Reported that the online program ACADES(?) deadline has been extended past Jan 1.
  • Reported that there has been 612 successful testing events.
  • Reported that that has been great coordination with the GFA academy.
  • The new GFSTC Rules will be sent out and asked that everyone review the rules and submit any questions or concerns.
  • Advised if there is anything needed from GFSTC, please reach out to her and she commits to helping with whatever is needed.

GAFC – No Report

GPSTC – Ronnie Cowart

  • Informed everyone that he is the Volunteer Initiative Coordinator.
  • Reported that they are now handling all the regional training delivery.
  • Reported that in efforts to include more personnel, they will be removing the term “volunteer” from the title of the training.
  • They will be offering 3-hour in-service classes.
  • Announced there will be new sections in GFA. One will be the Emergency Communications Group headed up by Beverly Walker.
  • Reported that Alex Mimms will no longer be over structure fire control but will oversee Special Projects and First Responder.
  • Jeff Dean will be over the Fire Officer Classes.

PENSION FUND – Luther

  • Reported that Sloan Drake has retired from his position. But, if anyone has any pension-related questions, they can call the main office.
  • Reported membership was up by 700.
  • Reported that the Pension Board will not be approving a COLA increase for the 2024 year.
  • Reminded everyone that if you need anything, please give him a call or call the office.

GEMA – No Report

BURN FOUNDATION – No report

FORESTRY – District Ranger/Chief Ranger O’Bryant

  • Reported that they are working on improving communication.
  • Discussed the current fire dangers and reminded everyone to be thinking about fire control.
  • Informed us that Georgia Forestry will be re-aligning districts throughout the state, but not much change for our area.
  • Reported that most rangers in our area are within the 30-40 minute range from any office that helps with response times.
  • Advised their office hours are 8:00 Am – 4:00 PM if we are in need to contact them.

GFA –

  • Reported that there was a board meeting being conducted today.
  • Reported that the PTSD bill is still pending with the legislature.
  • Still working on the Tax-Free bill for firefighters.
  • Reported that the grant funding for assistance to firefighters is reportedly being reduced from the 270M – 220M and encouraged everyone to contact their legislators for their support to maintain.
  • Announced Firefighter Appreciation day is February 6, 2024.
  • Discussed the need for more support for the Sprinkler Bill.

INSPECTORS – No Report

TIME – No report

VENDORS

  • FIRELINE – Brian McCabe
    • Reminded everyone that they continue to maintain their “In Stock” bunker gear program.
    • Informed that there will be a price increase in gear in January.
  • SOUTHEAST RESTORATION EMERGENCY RESPONSE – LOSS EVALUATOR
    • Announced they provide Board Up Services after fire/disaster incidents.
    • Provide their Loss Evaluator program that tracks Fire Loss / Property Saved.
    • Informed us that a member of their team, Josh Lundmark, does our web site work for the NWGFCA web site.

OLD BUSINESS – Chief Mitchell

  • Reminder that we will be conducting election of officers for 2024 at this meeting.
  • ELECTIONS – Chief Brock
    • Nominations Committee for election:
    • Troy Brock-Chair Rome Fire Department
    • Shane West Cherokee County Fire
    • Doug Ralston Gordon County Fire
    • Reported that they only received three nominations for office. They were as follows:
      • President – Bruce King, Bartow County
      • 1st Vice President – Clay Walker, Rome Fire
      • 2nd Vice President – Terry Mills, Calhoun Fire
  • Motion to open the election process, seconded and passed.

For President – Only one nomination received. No additional nominations from the floor.  Motion to proceed to elect nomination of Bruce King as President, seconded and passed. Nominations close.  Unanimous vote to elect Bruce King as President for 2024.

For 1st Vice President – Only one nomination received. No additional nominations from the floor.  Motion to proceed to elect nomination of Clay Walker as 1st Vice President, seconded and passed.  Nominations closed.  Unanimous vote to elect Clay Walker as 1st Vice President for 2024.

For 2nd Vice President – Only one nomination received. No additional nominations from the floor. Motion to proceed to election nomination of Terry Mills as 2nd Vice President, seconded and passed.  Nominations closed.  Unanimous vote to elect Terry Mills as 2nd Vice President for 2024

Treasurer – No nomination received prior to meeting. Nomination from the floor to nominate Chad Davis as treasurer.  No additional nominations from the floor.  Motion to proceed to elect nomination of Chad Davis to continue to serve as Treasurer, seconded and passed. Nominations closed. Unanimous vote to elect Chad Davis as Treasurer for 2024.

Secretary – No nomination received prior to meeting. Nomination from the floor to nominate Tim Prather to continue to serve as secretary. No additional nominations from the floor. Motion to proceed to elect nomination of Tim Prather as Secretary, seconded and passed.  Nominations closed. Unanimous vote to elect Tim Prather as secretary for 2024.

  • Motion to close the election process, seconded and approved.

Presentations – President Elect Bruce King

  • Byron Sutton – Presented a token of appreciation for his 7 years of service to the NWGFCA serving as Secretary.
  • Darrell Mitchell – Presented a token of appreciation for his 7 years of service to the NWGFCA serving as President.

Chief Mitchell – Report on Annual Audit – We were unable to coordinate an audit of our financial records in November.  We will try to have completed by the January 2024 meeting.

GSAR – Nathan Saylors

  • Provided presentation of GSAR – TF 6 that includes 21 counties.
  • Informed everyone that a lot to changes are coming.
  • Informed everyone that lots of training will be taking place.
  • Contacts are Ace-15 Tim Duvall and Tractor 25 Jamie Stone.
  • More to come.

Ronnie Cowart – Asked to provide thanks for lunch.

Meeting Adjourned:  Motion to adjourn meeting at 11:32, seconded and approved.

Tim Prather