Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire And Rescue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bradley County Fire & Rescue seeks AEDs, turnout gear and radios; commissioners debate mechanic hire and lift/pit options
Summary
Fire Chief Jeff Stewart presented equipment‑and‑staffing requests — replacement AEDs, turnout gear, radio upgrades, a proposed mechanic position and a full‑time fire marshal — and discussed retention, volunteer increases and infrastructure needs; commissioners raised cost and facility questions including whether a lift or pit is justified.
Chief Jeff Stewart told the commission Bradley County Fire & Rescue is requesting replacements and personnel to maintain safety and fleet readiness, and said a recruit class due to graduate May 16 will bring the department to full staffing.
Stewart identified several budget priorities: replacement automated external defibrillators (AEDs) purchased after a 2013 grant are aging (the department cited roughly 10 units and roughly $3,000 per unit as planning figures), turnout gear that has a roughly 10‑year service life and is now being rotated out, and radios that date to 2008 and need phased replacement to align with countywide radio upgrades. On personnel, Stewart described a request to hire a mechanic to reduce outsourcing costs and to convert a part‑time/fire‑marshal role to full‑time; he said the current marshal works 24 hours in a pay period and handles inspections and investigations.
“Those radios that we have now are 2008 models … we’re towards the end of the … phase‑out,” Stewart said. On turnout gear he noted a previous purchase 6–7 years ago and said replacements can be phased to manage cost. He also said the department’s volunteer ranks have increased by about 15% and now sit at roughly 40 volunteers.
Why it matters: Commissioners said equipment and mechanic capacity could reduce long‑term maintenance and vendor costs. Several members pushed for a cost‑benefit analysis of hiring an in‑house mechanic versus continuing to send vehicles to commercial shops in Chattanooga and Knoxville. Commissioners and staff also debated facility constraints: whether a maintenance pit or a vehicle lift should be planned at a new facility and the regulatory and safety reasons pits have become less feasible.
Facility and maintenance debate
- Lift vs. pit: Commissioners recalled prior study of a maintenance pit and a shared facility with the road department. Chief Stewart and others said a pit became cost‑prohibitive because of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements and other liability/space concerns; several speakers said a hydraulic lift would be more capable for axle and wheel work but is expensive and requires adequate bay space and ceiling height.
- Mechanic position: Commissioners discussed placing a mechanic at an existing station or the new Menace Road facility and whether that hire could be cost‑neutral by offsetting vendor expenses. Mayor Davis said converting current contractor payments into a salaried employee has been a stated objective; the mayor and commission asked for further financial detail.
Personnel, recruitment and training
Stewart said a recruit class will graduate May 16, which will fill the department’s authorized headcount. He said retention efforts include enhanced training opportunities, leadership involvement and increased paid training for volunteers. He added that volunteers can now receive pay for qualifying training, and the mutual‑aid system provides additional training capacity.
Ending
Commissioners asked Stewart to return with detailed cost comparisons for the mechanic position, phased procurement schedules for AEDs and radios, and estimates for the fire marshal position as a full‑time role. The commission praised the department’s staffing progress and volunteer growth and requested follow‑up financial detail to evaluate long‑term tradeoffs between in‑house maintenance and outsourcing.
