County chiefs propose standing committee to oversee paramedics, heavy rescue and hazmat after staffing shift

Weber County fire and emergency-management leaders told commissioners on July 21 they would form a countywide chiefs committee, with subcommittees for paramedic services, heavy rescue and HAZMAT, to coordinate training, equipment purchases and grant billing after a recent staffing change.

Chief Rick Clark (county fire leadership) told the commission the programs previously flowed through a staff position that has moved to the sheriff27s office, and that someone needs to act as a liaison for grant, training and equipment coordination. "I would really love to put together a committee, overall committee with all the chiefs in the county that would run all these and then some subcommittees for the paramedic, the heavy rescue, and the HAZMAT," Clark said.

The Nut Graf: The proposed structure is a rotating committee of fire chiefs overseeing subcommittees; staff and commissioners said they want one consistent county contact (the commission and chiefs discussed Weber Fire District as a preferred standing chair) and asked that grants and purchases continue to be reviewed centrally so the county avoids duplicate payments or grant noncompliance.

Lisa (emergency-management staff) told the commission she supports a chiefs-led committee but asked that the emergency-management office retain the ability to review invoices before payment to prevent double-dipping on federal or state grant funds and to protect regional funding. She said a candidate to replace the prior liaison has HAZMAT experience and that additional administrative staff are forthcoming.

Commissioners and chiefs discussed governance details: a single, consistent chair (some commissioners preferred Weber Fire District as chair), rotating vice chairs, clear bylaws, and a named contact to pass approved items to county finance (Jason) so billing and procurement remain separated and auditable. Commissioners asked staff to bring the chiefs and relevant finance staff together in a work session and requested the meeting occur before the county budget process so equipment and training needs can be considered in the budget.

There was no formal vote; commissioners supported the concept and directed staff to schedule a work session with the chiefs and county finance before the budget hearings.

Ending: Staff will convene county fire chiefs, emergency-management staff and finance to formalize committee bylaws, define a standing chair/contact, set reporting lines and identify administrative steps to avoid grant duplication; a work session will be scheduled before the budget cycle.