THOMAS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES BOARD
Board of
Directors Meeting
3/20/00, 6:00PM
Board Members Present: Earl Williams, Roy Campbell, Moses Gross, Ricky Smith
TCESB Attorney: Bruce Warren
News Media: Mark Brannan, WPAX and Laura Cassels, Times Enterprise
Board Chairman Roy Campbell called the meeting to order and Earl Williams opened the Board of Director’s meeting with prayer.
Ricky Smith made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 24, 2000 meeting. Earl Williams seconded the motion. All were in agreement and the minutes stand approved.
In a letter dated March 17, 2000 City Manager Tom Berry requested that the Thomas County Emergency Services Board repay the City for money due totaling $777,122.23.
The City had paid $635,518.36 for Fire services during 1999 and January and February 2000. $141,603.87 was for funding the group insurance for all departments of the Emergency Services Board. Moses Gross made a motion to repay the amount due to the City. Earl Williams seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Roy Campbell voiced his concerns about the need for new Fire Trucks. There was a discussion about lease or purchase options. Bruce Warren, Board Attorney stated that if the Board entered into a lease program certain provisions must be made in the contracts to avoid obligating the City or County.
Bruce Warren discussed general financing, the Local Government Act, borrowing percentages of anticipated tax revenues from the total of the digest, sources of funds and revenue funds. After that, Executive Director Smith asked Mr. Warren exactly what needs to be done legally to borrow money. Mr. Warren stated that the Board has basically two choices: (1) The Board can borrow money with the City/ County as guarantor(s); (2) The City and/or County could borrow the money directly and remit it to the Emergency Services Board. Mayor Roy Campbell stated numerous times that the City would be willing to do either. They have already confirmed that the City would guarantee $1,000,000 or borrow the money for the Board. Mayor Campbell asked Moses Gross and Ricky Smith to find out where the County stands on this. Mayor Campbell expressed his desire for the Board of Commissioners to expedite the process for calling for the referendum on the 1% Special Local Option Sales Tax. With the proposed date of June 13, 2000 there would not be adequate time for its promotion. He hopes to discuss it further with the County Commissioners at the joint City/County Workshop later this week.
Closed Session began at 6:40PM and ended at 7:20PM
Moses Gross made a motion to increase the pay for E911 and EMS personnel , the Executive Director, and the Fire Chief. The motion was seconded by Earl Williams. All were in favor; the motion carried.
Roy Campbell requested that the TCESB set a time for workshops. The Board agreed to meet every other week from 7:00AM – 8:00AM starting on Thursday, March 30th,2000.
There will be two workshops and one formal Board meeting each month.
Mayor Campbell noted that the Chairmanship of the Emergency Services Board is rotated every three months and next month will be changed. Earl Williams made a motion to elect Ricky Smith as next Board Chairman. Roy Campbell seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried.
A second discussion about the need of Fire trucks ensued. After talking about the financial position of the Board, Earl Williams made the motion to purchase two Fire trucks; one fully equipped and the other without equipment. Ricky Smith seconded the motion. All were in agreement, the motion passed.
The meeting adjourned.
Jack Smith, Executive Director