Fire districts, EMS station location may be discussed at town hall meeting

The recent hot button issues of an EMS location in West Jackson and fire districts in Jackson County may be discussed during a town hall meeting on Thursday in Braselton. Jackson County Commissioner Bruce Yates is hosting one of his regular town hall meetings on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., at the Braselton Police and Municipal Court Building.
On the agenda is a presentation and discussion by county manager Kevin Poe about fire districts in Jackson County. That long-standing issue has recently been stirred by a disagreement about fire protection services by the West Jackson Fire Department and the Jackson Trail Fire Department.
While not on the agenda, a number of citizens are expected to raise concerns about the location of an EMS station in West Jackson. Yates favors building a new ambulance station on the new Lewis Braselton Blvd., but others prefer moving it to county-owned land at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 124 and Ga. Hwy. 60.
Those who favor moving the EMS station to Ga. Hwy. 60 say it would fill in coverage gaps in West Jackson. They contend keeping it on Lewis Braselton Blvd. would serve too many people outside of Jackson County, since the location is closer to the convergence of Jackson, Barrow, Hall and Gwinnett counties.
As for those who want to build a new EMS station on Lewis Braselton Blvd., they say it will provider quicker access to Interstate 85 and serve a more densely populated area of Jackson County.
The meeting will also allow citizens to meet their newly-elected officials — Tom Crow, chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners; Jim Hix, District 1 commissioner; Janice Mangum, sheriff; and Sherry Moore, probate judge. It will further feature John Green, the new superintendent of the Jackson County School System.

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#1 Fire amend on 09/10/12 at 02:45 PM [Reply]

As most aware the fire districts are under control of the BOC with the exception of West Jackson which was created under state constituion amendments
The result ion is to have the BOC introduce legislitation amendment to turn over
West Jackson to the county. Problem solved
I know this will get reaction

#1.1 Fire amend ...Facts for you on 09/10/12 at 07:31 PM [Reply]

you are incorrect, the BOC has no control of any fire district. The Fire boards were created to set a milage rate thats it.

All other oversite of each fire dept is with the department themselves and the members.

The 2 city departments Commerce and Jefferson are run by their respective cities.

West Jackson is an independant sibdivision of the state... why would the folks in that area want the county involved ?

Get the facts straight.

#1.1.1 Mike Buffington, editor on 09/10/12 at 08:12 PM [Reply]

A point of correction: Except for West Jackson, all other fire districts were created by the county BOC and are subject to the BOC. They can be abolished by the BOC at any time and are not totally independent as is the WJ district.

#1.1.1.1 no sir on 09/11/12 at 05:02 AM [Reply]

The TAX district can be abolished not the fire district. The fire dept s were there BEFORE the tax districts were created.

Go pull the paper work Buffington and read carefully.

I was there when it happened. Also 2-3 of those depts have been INC since all this took place and the BOC can not dissolve a corporation Mike.

#1.1.1.1.1 Mike Buffington on 09/11/12 at 06:56 AM [Reply]

The BOC controls the final say on the districts' mileage rates...unless the BOC approves those rates, they can't be implemented. Also, the equipment owned by the fire districts is all public paid for by public funds. The county can't abolish the corporations, but it does control the money and it does have the authority to abolish the districts and set the fire tax rates at 0 mills if it wants to. Except for the west Jackson district, all other fire districts are a creation of the county government and none of thes have the authority to raise taxes without county approval. The fire districts are subdivisions of the county and serve at the pleasure of the county, they do not exist as independent public agencies.

#2 EMS station's budget on 09/10/12 at 03:51 PM [Reply]

Another item to add to discussion is the budgeted
cost for the 3 EMS stations.
And do not even think about moving Jefferson
coverage area to accommodate the western shift
of the Braselton station.

#3 Amemd on 09/10/12 at 08:32 PM [Reply]

Thanks mr buffington for the support as I know what I am talking about
So as far as wjfd goes it was a amendment that was introduced in 1968 by a rep
At same time that a bill was passed that states Jackson county is the only county that GBi does not have to notify the sheriff before investigating in Jackson county and the
Only thing that can do us legislation be introduced to put west Jackson in control of BOC. Any
Legislation can
Be introduced and passed
Without citizen input. Ie. most legation get bundled into
Other laws. Lol anything is possible not saying will happen May save a life
My two cents worth
I'm done

#4 Get Real Folks on 09/11/12 at 08:18 AM [Reply]

Forget about it folks. The BOC will never touch the fire districts because it's too poitical. They don't want to risk loosing the fire votes. Fact is, there should only be one fire tax district but it will never happen for a long time. The BOC doesn't have the guts to touch it. And, now that we have a new BOC Chairman, you can forget about it happening. Let's just hope that he pays his fire tax like the rest of us have been doing for years.

#5 Poll on 09/11/12 at 10:33 PM [Reply]

Looks like a good topic for a poll
Wonder what the public has to say ?

#5.1 Pole Stirrer on 09/12/12 at 06:01 AM [Reply]

Public says, "We are sheep....baa....baaa"

#6 CHOICE on 09/12/12 at 07:36 AM [Reply]

Come January 1,the people of Jackson County should demand that the new BOC just have the guts and let the people vote on this matter. Let's put it to a referendum and see how it plays out. You have too many dictators who call themselves fire chiefs that is an absolute mess and disgrace that our county continues to allow this to exist. The fire boards are a joke, because they are just puppets for the chiefs and just pass on to the BOC whatever they say or want. It's time to face this subject and deal with it all you members of the Jackson County BOC!

#6.1 Yeah lets on 09/12/12 at 10:21 AM [Reply]

Hey Choice and #1 ~ you do understand to make a "county" department cost MORE $

Please put a referendum up that makes the BOC raise the mileage rate !
The people of Jackson spoke when they elected Tom Crow and Jim Hicks... add in Chase Hardy (commerce fire) and D.Smith ( x EMS Director) # 4 is correct no way this happens the next 2 years.

#6.1.1 choice again on 09/12/12 at 08:19 PM [Reply]

I would rather pay more if need be than to be in the mess we have with these so-called chiefs we have that don't fear the BOC. By the way, my fire tax millage rate went up 29% this past year for no reason at all. As far as the elections went, not much to choose from. It is what it is.

#7 More $? on 09/12/12 at 12:54 PM [Reply]

Ok fireman give me the numbers you have
Don't tell public that taxes will go up not 100 percent true although
Possible some may see small increase some will see decline overall close to same
But for the ones that see a small increase will see a decline in homeowners insurance as when you go to a county wide department your I SO should drop
Yes some fireman will "leave" but you will see more qualified fireman stay and join " ie barrow county"
As far as operating
Daily
Will be same just
Under direction of county trained same better leadership can have paid firefighters to go to the calls on a timely manner not shot up in shorts flip flops " you know should you are"

#8 Poll on 09/12/12 at 01:20 PM [Reply]

Thanks mr buffington for the poll
We have a muti million doller burn building at the county farm that all districts can't get ISO credit for because it's to far away
Now you talk about a waste of tax money
Put under BOC that issue resolved
You are right. With our current board it will shock me if try moved on anything with this issue
Unless you follow what's going on in Jackson county you will
Not get the whole picture.
Keep our personally fellings out of it it is needed to
Protect the citizens of Jackson county
For the one that oppose this what do you have to fear or hide???
I agree let's put it to a vote
Thanks mr buffington for allowing us to talk about this very
Important sensative issue

#9 thinking on 09/12/12 at 04:27 PM [Reply]

I thought the west jackson ems station was under construction now by keith hayes

#10 County Fire Dept? on 09/12/12 at 04:41 PM [Reply]

Mike B
Shouldn't you advise those voting
'yes' in your poll for a county wide fire dept that this
could potentially add ~ $10m to the annual county budget?

#10.1 Mike Buffington on 09/12/12 at 05:35 PM [Reply]

Thats not necessarily the case. Only if the county did away with volunteers and went to a full time system would that happen. Having a single county department financed under the county allocating the resources to the existing volunteer system would not cost more. It would depend on those choices. A full time county department would cost several million dollars. Neighboring Barrow county which is geographically smaller but with a little more population is full time and costs over $6 million.

#10.1.1 admin costs on 09/13/12 at 05:40 AM [Reply]

Mike,
Because you centralize the department it does raise the admin cost and a training officer would have to be hired.

Go back and look at Banks county closely.. the mess they had(have) by doing what your talking about.

Should we really be looking at this issue right now when Jackson county is still furloughing employees and struggling to pay debt ?

Can you justify it when we are short handed in the jail and on patrol in the sheriff's dept ?

Now is not the time.

#10.1.1.1 Countryboy38 on 09/13/12 at 07:03 PM [Reply]

You people who think moving the West Jackson Ambulance is going to make things better and give a quicker response is not looking at the long range goals and neither is the people who run this county!!! For once I wish they would spend money where it is needed and put on another med unit in the North/ West Jackson area, this would solve the whole problem, leave the West Jackson truck where its at I do admit they need to have a better EMS station... But hire more EMTs and medics, if this county can fork out money to build an over grown court house. jail, spend x money on the 911 system spend money on patrol cars that are propane fueled and make roads where roads are already located at, then they have money to hire more EMTs and medics and put another truck in service!!! Step out side the box and stop disagreeing and do something beside setting on your rears and fussing with each other about where the truck needs to go and put another unit on simple as that!!! Putting another med unit in service in this county can be well justified in order for it to be funded!! Cut some office jobs that are not important to help for it if you have to!!I am not going to even get started about the fire depts who cares if WJFD is call jumping as one article I read has it, i dont care what fire dept responds if I need help!! And alot of times they respond to calls that are not dispatched by the 911 dispatchers because they think the med unit may not need rescue or the fire dept when in fact they could be needed!!! You have EMTs and medics on the fire trucks and they have the medical equipment or should on every engine in this county to take care of a sick or injured person!!! So stop complaining about call jumping!!!

#11 10? on 09/12/12 at 06:59 PM [Reply]

I looked at and read each post. Nowhere did I see where
Anyone Saunders to go all paid and no vol.
As we must rely on vols for years to come how did you come up with $ 10 million?
I'm sure you done a budget worksheet on that figure
Lol
Mr Buffington is right as how it could play out
It's time to look to future for the citizens and not play politics with the vols
It's sad it comes down to this but when you got fire board mdmbets that are firefighters or chiefs no accountability to tax payer monies
The BOC must be responsible for those funds
Another topic that was overlooked
Not sure wich depts that are " incorp" but how can we take tax payer funds and give to a corp ?
I need to buy a ambulance and incorp have BOC impose. Tax to pay for it lol lol

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Fire districts, EMS station location may be discussed at town hall meeting

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Fire districts, EMS station location may be discussed at town hall meeting

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