WORK STUDY SESSION

BOARD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Wednesday February 21, 2007  |  4:00 p.m.

TO BE HELD IN THE ANNEX COMMISSION CHAMBERS

 

  1. ITEMS OF STUDY:  Items of study includes all timed items, bids, contracts and agreements, public hearings and organizational business coming up before the Governing Body.

     

    1. Presentation and discussion of the Pavement Evaluation Report from Terracon. (4:00 – 4:30)

     

    Please find enclosed in your packet the report from Terracon on the 36 mile project.  A representative from Terracon will be at your Study Session to answer any questions that you may have.  Full plans will be distributed during the Work Study Session.

     

    1. Presentation by Allan Radcliff, Emergency Management Director, and discussion relative to rural fire protection needs in Franklin County. 4:30 – 5:00)

     

    Alan has received approval from the Local Emergency Planning Committee for the County to purchase an Emergency Response Cascade Air Trailer from 2006 Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) grant funds in the amount of $33,000.  The trailer would provide an unlimited supply of air at fire scenes to fill first responder’s air bottles.  It would also provide emergency lighting and could be used to transport other emergency equipment.  Alan believes the trailer could be requested up to 20 times per year though it is not clear how many of these fire scenes would require the refilling of air bottles.  Currently for large structure fires air bottles must be relayed from the scene to the stations for filling. The County would have to house, maintain, insure, and transport this vehicle to fires in the County.  In addition it would be up to the County to replace this equipment in the future.  While this equipment would benefit the rural fire departments this proposal raises some important policy and financial issues that the Commission needs to discuss.

     

    This proposal, though a small step, opens up a whole new service responsibility for the County.  Small incremental decisions can lead you down a path you did not intend on going down if it is not clear from the start where the path is going. I believe that the Commission needs to understand where we are going with this.  This issue warrants considerable study to identify what are the rural fire protection needs of the County, and what are the options for meeting these needs along with their associated costs and benefits.  At this juncture we have not, to my knowledge, been asked by the representatives of the townships and / or fire districts to do this.  Perhaps a joint meeting with those who are legally responsible for the provision of rural fire protection in Franklin County should be held to determine their needs and what, if any, interest they have in looking into other options for the provision of this important service.

     

    1. Discuss Commission Work Plan for 2007.  (5:00 – 5:30)

     

    The Commission has a lot on their plate right now and I thought it might be helpful to identify all the issues that the Commission wants to be addressed so that we can prioritize them and set up a work plan and schedule for the next 2 years.  Hopefully this will help you reach consensus and see that the most important issues get addressed in a timely fashion.

     

    DINER WILL BE PROVIDED

    5:30 – 6:00

     

    1. Review and discuss draft Commission Rules. (6:00 – 6:30)

     

    Doug Harris and Lisa Johnson are putting together draft copies of the Commission Rules to be handed out during the Work Study Session.
     

  2. ADJOURNMENT