PUBLIC SAFETY
As if transitioning to paid firefighters in Jones County was not enough of a challenge, the Board of Commissioners is also preparing for the retirement of the department’s current director.
Don Graham has served as Jones County’s Emergency Management Director since his appointment in 2009. He recently announced that he will retire July 11 with 15 years of service.
Chairman Chris Weidner called the Feb. 20 work session to order and opened the discussion with a question to the roomful of firefighters in attendance. All Jones County Commissioners were also in attendance at the work session.
“How much time is needed between Don’s retirement and the next director to make a smooth transition?” he asked.
Jones County Station 11 Capt. Vann Collins spoke at the meeting on behalf of the station captains in the county. He explained that the captains had gotten together and have a vision for the Jones County Fire Department.
Collins said the county needs full-time fire protection and that has been done other cities and counties using part-time firefighters.
“We can make this a full-time department with parttime people and save the county $200,000,” he said.
The captain said the concept has been used successfully in Roswell for the past 20 years. He said the plan gives the county the option of getting years of experience with part-time pay.
Collins said the drawback to the plan is it is tough to schedule.
“I think this is a great opportunity. The advantage is the plan is ready to start immediately with trained people,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it fits us well at this time. It a way to transition to a fulltime fire department.”
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said Jones County is on the verge between volunteers and full-time firefighters. He said his first thought was the scheduling.
“My concern is we would not be the top priority for people who have a full-time job,” he said.
Collins said he feels like Jones County would draw employees from more surrounding departments.
The captain said the feeling department-wide is the next chief should be Thomas Coleman, the current deputy chief. Coleman is a full-time firefighter and Battalion Chief with the Sandy Springs Fire Department. He works part-time in Jones County.
Collins was asked if Coleman agreed with the plan of a full-time department with parttime people. The captain said Coleman did agree.
“One major point with Thomas is the volunteers respond with him 100 percent. That’s probably the most important thing,” he said.
Currently the county has full-time coverage from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The plan for the 24-hour coverage would use stations 1, 5 and 6.
Kitchens said he did not know if they would be able to find more than nine full-time firefighters.
Collins said the three shifts would equal 42 shifts per weeks. He said the plan would not be to hire nine full-time firefighters but to hire 30 part-time firefighters.
“That would give us a bigger pool. I’ve never known a full-time firefighter who did not have a part-time job,” he added.
The captain said the number of names on the roster did not matter because the number of shifts stayed the same.
“We would be starting on ground level with seasoned people,” he said.
Collins said Coleman would need an assistant and command staff.
He said battalion chiefs oversee the firefighting and do the scheduling.
“The battalion chiefs are the heart to make it work,” he said.
Weidner said, with a $200,000 savings, the salary could be bumped up a little.
Collins noted the fulltime firefighters would not need benefits from the county.
Kitchens said he was concerned at the legal side of having a part-time director. The captain pointed out that the City of Gray’s Fire Chief, Keith Eisele, is part-time, and it caused no issues.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said his priority is to have a highly functional fire department.
“If this solves the problem, I’m all for it,” he said.
Martin said he also wants to see the Jones County and City of Gray departments work together.
Eisele was asked for comments.
“You’ve had good ideas presented that I think you should look at,” he said. “And the city and county are working a lot better together now than they have in the past.”
