02 City Council Minutes 8-10-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meetrng August 10, 2004 Page 13 Chief Grooms explained that, although all of the Mutual Aid agreements the Fire Department has had, have expired, they will still respond when they have personnel and equipment to respond. Councilman Wilson said we should have a formal agreement with the two Volunteer Fire Departments, who have stations located in the City limits, to back our departments and respond when we need them. Chief Grooms said that one of the problems with Mutual Aid is that you are bound by an agreement, whether you have the personnel and equipment available or not. Councilman Bell said that the EMS and the Fire Department were in the same department in most cities and wondered why they were separate in Paris. Mr. Klinkerman said that was set up in 1979. He said in Austin and Travis County, they researched to find the best patient care and found it was best with a separate EMS. Councilman Bell asked if the Fire Department can utilize volunteers or First Responders. He continued that there needs to be a spirit of cooperation between the City of Paris and the Volunteer Fire Departments. Chief Grooms said he needed to provide the Council with their Standard Operating Procedures as well as the Protocols for how they respond to emergencies. Councilman Bell was worried about the lack of fire hydrants on Hwy. 195 for fire coverage. City Engineer Shawn Napier said there were five or six fire hydrants on Hwy. 195, now. Mayor Fendley said they still need to discuss the budgets in Public Works and also the Health Department budget. It was decided to have budget meetings on Monday, August 16, 2004 from six to 9:00 p.m. and also on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 from six to 9:00 p.m. Mayor Fendley handed out the resignation of Interim City Manager Terry Townsend and indicated that he had gotten that yesterday. He said this would