Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oconee County fire advisory commission elects chair, names committees and hears apparatus updates
Summary
The Oconee County Fire Service Advisory Commission elected a 2025 chair (4–1), appointed members to radio, awards and incentive committees, and received updates on ordered mini-pumpers and pumper-tanker chassis.
The Oconee County Fire Service Advisory Commission elected a new chair for the 2025 calendar year and completed several routine appointments during its Feb. 20, 2025 meeting, while members also received status updates on apparatus orders and the commission's awards dinner.
The commission elected a chair in a motion that carried 4–1, then elected John McAllister as vice chair and approved the meeting minutes. Commissioners appointed Bruce Brock to the 2025 awards committee and confirmed staffing for the radio and incentive committees. Director Curran did not attend; the commission noted he was at an Emergency Management Conference.
Chief Smith opened the meeting and led procedural items. Bruce Brock was noted as being seated for Region 4 for the current term. Committee appointments discussed included the radio communications committee (members reported it will meet next week), the awards committee (Bruce Brock to serve) and an incentive committee with Commissioner Erkin named as a participant.
Staff provided operational updates on apparatus ordered in prior years. Chief Smith said mini-pumpers ordered in 2022 were delayed because a strike at Ford slowed chassis production; the commission plans inspection trips in March to Southeastern Fire Equipment in Corbin, Kentucky, and to collect completed vehicles at the motor pool. On pumper-tankers, staff said the department increased chassis size to a larger Freightliner with a bigger engine and transmission; the bodies will remain similar in overall size. The commission noted it originally planned to buy four pumper-tankers but instead purchased six; four chassis have arrived at the manufacturer and the commission expects delivery to begin this fall, with two additional chassis to follow.
The commission also confirmed logistics for its awards dinner: the event will be held at Walhalla High School and there is no charge for award recipients; guest tickets were listed at $30 per person. Staff said they made an effort to include awardees from late 2023 and 2024 to ensure no one was missed.
Business concluded with routine regional reports from commissioners representing Regions 1 through 5 and a motion to adjourn that carried.
Votes at a glance • Election of chair for 2025 — motion carried, 4 yes, 1 no (tally announced in meeting). • Election of vice chair (John McAllister) — passed (tally not specified). • Approval of minutes — passed (tally not specified). • Committee appointments (awards, radio, incentive) — approved by the commission (tallies not specified). • Motion to adjourn — approved (tally not specified).
