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WALHALLA — Emergency Services in Oconee County will get a complete overhaul if Safety Committee Chairman Wayne McCall has his way.
“There must be some drastic changes. Drastic changes,” he emphasized after the Safety Committee meeting Thursday.
McCall led a discussion among the committee and several fire chiefs to determine whether the county would be better served if fire protection returned to all-volunteer stations, with municipalities still contracting coverage for unincorporated areas.
“Volunteer stations are getting the shaft,” Corinth-Shiloh Chief Travis Nix said, specifically referencing a grievance he had with Emergency Services Rodney Burdette.
Nix stated that recently his department had received a phone call from Anderson Fire and Safety in regards to 4 air paks a station had. Burdette, according to Nix, told him to turn the paks into Anderson Fire and Safety, and that if they did not, Burdette would collect the new paks that had just been distributed.
Nix produced purchase documents at the meeting he claim prove that the old air paks Burdette was trying to get Corinth-Shiloh to trade in were purchased in 2003 by the volunteer fire department with the help of a 10 percent match from the county on a FEMA grant. He said the county, under the agreement, had no claim to them.
“Basically, he’s trading in Corinth-Shiloh’s equipment for new air paks without our knowing so,” Nix said. “What I want to know is, where’s our 2.9 (mills) in our district going?”
Ritchie Caudill of Keowee Key Fire Department and Ronnie Williams of Crossroads also expressed concerns over air pak trade-ins and their value by Emergency Services.
Nix answered in the affirmative when asked by McCall if he believed the current fire protection plan should end, citing poor communication as one of the main reasons.
Another instance perceived as poor communication by some chiefs concerns a pre-ISO fire protection study recently completed.
Brandon Price, president of Corinth-Shiloh, said his department has received no cooperation in even being able to look at the final draft of the report.
“I want to see a copy of this ISO study,” Price said.
He then asked Tom Stultz of the Emergency Services Commission, sitting the audience, if he could provide him with a copy. Stultz refused, telling Price to go through “the proper channels” to get one.
Price also said that despite money being pumped in by the county under the current Emergency Services plan his department is being hurt financially.
“Corinth-Shiloh would be better funded (under the previous fire protection plan),” Price said, explaining that fundraising efforts are being hindered by the perception that they county is funding the department.
It wasn’t a good night for Burdette, who was not in attendance, and the infant Emergency Services department, as even Mountain Rest Chief Bill Simmons, who said his department has been doing better than ever under the new fire protection plan, couldn’t muster up a ringing endorsement for the department. When asked by McCall if he thought his department could operate just as well without the current Emergency Services leadership structure he replied, “I honestly don’t know.”
Stultz was the lone defender of Emergency Services in attendance. He said the county might lose negotiating power in municipal contracts without a centralized Emergency Services structure in place as it is now. Stultz’ comments also carried a tone of inevitability.
“The dissolution of 21 and emergency services is going to be a huge loss to the county,” Stultz said. “Volunteerism is decreasing across the board. All the volunteer stations have dedicated people, but if the council thinks that areas that are growing in the county can be covered by new volunteer stations, I don’t think that is a very realistic stance to take.”
Councilman Joel Thrift made his intentions very clear.
“It’s time to give it back to the people with a level of funding everyone can agree to,” Thrift said.
McCall echoed that sentiment afterwards.
“In my opinion, we have to cut it out,” McCall said, adding that the Emergency Services operation is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition.
McCall and Thrift added that they hope to reach a decision on changes in fire protection in Oconee County before the budget reaches council. That is scheduled for early April.
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March 13, 2009
12:05 p.m.Report inappropriate content
This meeting was a joke, Wayne
McCall and the other members of
the trio heard from their planted
spokesmen. After the opponnents to
St. 21 spoke meeting was adjourned,
out of time. Sounds just like the
meeting a couple months ago. Strange
that this meetin was scheduled on
such short notice, with the 2 opposing
councilmen unable to attend. All I
can say, is Price and Nix are idiots.
The economy is effecting their fundraising
more than anything.
March 13, 2009
1:48 p.m.Report inappropriate content
The future of station 21 was in question since last June. The 3 new incumbents have mae no secret of that so they are following through on what they campaigned for and what I, for one, want. I much more value our volunteer fire departments and believe they would operate much more effectively and efficiently without Mr. Burdette's interference.
March 14, 2009
2:11 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Change is difficult. Previous change has been difficult for the firefighters and has been exasperated by the fact that their opinions have apparently been largely ignored. Now there is going to be an even larger change. We need to be VERY concerned that the more the fire buggy bounces, the more volunteers are going to get or be bounced off. Can we afford ISO 10?
March 14, 2009
2:43 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I am amazed at the pure lack of not facing the facts:
County areas are charged 6 mills for fire protection. 2 mills directly to Rodney, 4 to the areas served. We have not seen one dime. We have gotten new equipment true, but our department already has new equipment so now we have duplicated equipment that could have gone to items we really needed.
The rescue squads have become the step children of the county. There are more sick people on a daily basis than fires. They have gotten nothing in this. We were told from day one that within 30 days we were going to merge and get on the same channels. Has not happened after two years.
Three men in a truck covering the entire county in a pick up truck helps no one. This is how we as a county got started in the 60s with Oakway and realized that one station covering the county does not work. Seems like we are thinking now a "resource" that has been shoved down our throats will be a good solution. Not... they are alwasy on the other side of the county when an emergecny arrives.
We were told by Rodney that 4 stations were required by ISO. When we met with the Mizzel Hodges group they told us that was the farthest from the truth. They told us if we had two fire trucks and a service truck our department would be more than fine and if we were in an area without fire hydrants than we would need to get our neighbors tanker en route. They were actually funny about the "Phantom" station and confused how someone could see how this works.
I know Mr. Price from Corinth Shiloh and think he is a very knowledgable, well rounded, educated person. He is no doubt right when he speaks of issues of funding. My gosh, Rodney is wanting to take thier air packs and the county does not even own them. All over a deal he made with Anderson Fire Safety when he took the high bid. Now what....?
And to hear Rodney say that his staff is so experienced. I have been a volunteer more than 10 years and can tell you I have more training and certifications than Rodney and most of his staff. His number two man in charge just got his basic firefighter classes this past year??? I have volunteers in my department who have had that in thier first 4 months in the business. Then you quote Mr. Lee from Keowee with All His Years Of Experience. You might wnat to call Keowee and ask them about Mr. Lee and his experience. They might educate you on his leadership skills and knowledge of fire. He never went in a a fire in his years at Keowee. If you talk to the Sta 21 guys they will tell you that they were hoping for a leadership change.
And we are so far away from ISO, why talk about it... We are living in a fantasy land if we think we are ready for a straight rating in the county.
I think we were better of years ago with Mize and Head... it sure was simpler then and at least we knew where we were going without a bunch of broken promises.
March 14, 2009
3:12 p.m.Report inappropriate content
How in the world can you slam Corinth Shiloh about fundraisers. Our department is looking to have fundraisers also only to hear by our people that thay already give taxes that support us. We have not seen anything except a dish tv in our station. I am not real sure how you work it to put out fire but I bet it does not work very well. We are the laughing stock of the state when it comes to fire service issues. We need to get someone in here that will at least be intelligent to our needs and not tell us what our departments need by a man who has never stepped foot in our station in two years. I am amazed how people talk about how well station 21 is working. I can remember years ago of being called to back up another fire station on a fire and we as a team put it out. As crazy as it sounds no one ever said on these fires back then "Boy it sure would be nice to have three guys in a pick up truck coming from Walhalla or Westminster, we sure could have put it out quicker or saved more if they were here". All I have ever heard is how it would be nice to have help in each station during the day. Good example - a fire where no volunteers are around the best you get is three guys in a pick up truck. Having daytime people gives you one pumper and three tankers if four stations were alerted. And this concept of 21 being a rapid intervention team or a swift team. I would sure like to know if I were trapped in a fire that my rescue team was on the scene in under five minutes otherwise it sure would be hot in there. I am glad to see things are changing.
March 16, 2009
8:32 a.m.Report inappropriate content
GetRealOconee, I have been a volunteer here in the county for quiete a few years. St. 21 was responding in a fire truck in the beginning, but after the up roar on fuel waste, the decision was made to switch to a quick response vechicle(pick up).
You talk about being trapped in a fire, having your rescue team on scene in five minutes. Most fire attack is not even started in under five minutes. When you consider response time, size up, and correct and proper deployment, and water supply setup. You are talking about at least ten minutes. Depending on where 21 is at the time, they can be on scene in 10 to 15 minutes. They do stay at Walhalla and Westminster at night, the only stations to offer housing. During day time hours they could possibly be in your district when the call goes out.
Now lets discuss the trapped issue. How many volunteers have been properly trained to do the rescue? I was in class with the majority of 21 during their training. Most of them had already had some type of training, but went thru to better prepare themselves to help you and I. A person not prepared to do this properly will only add to the problem. I myself had my eyes opened on the correct and safe way to do some of these rescues.
The issue of being the laughing stock of the state. You are right, but not because of St.21. It is because the "good ol boys" are refusing to move forward. The new program was actually being viewed by many as a model to start similar departments in their areas.
Now the issue of not recieving anything except dish tv. I would have to say, you are a straight up liar. Just this past year all stations have recieved new turnout gear. helments, boots, and air packs. You talk about Shiloh fundraising. They may not need as much, if they had not went out on their own and bought a firetruck. Creating a payment. By the way, who maintains this truck for them?
My station and sister stations on the north side need to get a grip.