Barrow County Emergency Services making plans for 2010

“During the time I am in the Interim Chief’s position it is my job to lead this department into the future,” Skinner said.

One of the more immediate objectives facing the department is the move to the new fire headquarters on Pleasant Hill Church Road.

“It will take several weeks to move all the supplies, furniture and other items into the new building,” said Skinner. “Of course, the same as when a citizen moves into a new home, it will take some time to get everything settled.”

Skinner has also put a plan in place to fill open positions within the department and create a list of personnel wanting to join the department. The list will allow the department to quickly fill any positions that may become open.

Work is continuing on efforts to streamline fire and emergency medical reports. “The system we are moving towards will allow personnel to do these reports simultaneously” Skinner said. “It will also follow standards for medical billing.”

Another goal for the upcoming year is establishing better communication between everyone involved with Barrow County Emergency Services. To meet this goal, administrators will be working with all personnel to keep them informed of changes in the department and will strive to keep commissioners and citizens better informed of changes that involve services provided by the department.

“We will be an open department that strives to keep everyone informed of what is going on in the department,” Skinner explained. “Since the services we provide to the County are public safety it is important that we keep everyone up to date on what their department is doing.”

Another important project for 2010 is planning for training. Deputy Chief Bryan Bullock is planning and organizing classes focused on officer training. The goal is to offer training to station officers that will enhance their skills and knowledge and help the officers as they perform their duties.

The department also plans to train additional personnel as Fire Instructor II. The training will make the department even more self sufficient in providing training for their personnel.

“With the current economy and budget restraints everyone is having to find economical ways to manage the budgets,” Skinner said. “By developing these personnel as fire instructors we have found one way to do more training within the budget that we have.”

Planning is also continuing for the upcoming move of E911 to the headquarters station. With a projected move date in the spring of 2010, Skinner and E911 manager Kathy Wallace are working together with other departments to prepare for the completion of construction. The move will coincide with an upgrade in the 911 system. SPLOST money will be used to install six consoles for communication officers. The consoles will have an upgraded CAD system to assist communication officers in performing their duties.

The current 911 center only has four consoles. Department leaders project six consoles will be needed in the near future. Efforts are also continuing in filling open positions within the E911 department.

Additionally, as part of the department’s plans for 2010, the current 911 center will be kept in place as a backup for the new system.

“With the responsibilities of the 911 center, having this center as a backup is very important,” said Wallace. “The maintenance of this backup system will be kept to a minimum.”

Skinner will be working with the Barrow County Board of Commissioners to select a chief for the Barrow County Emergency Department.

“Whoever the commissioners name as the chief of this department will have a challenge in growing this department to keep up with the growth of Barrow County,” said Skinner. “This growth has to also be managed with a watchful eye on the budget. The current economic state has put particular challenges on everyone including Barrow County Emergency Department. The person in the chief position will have to find inventive ways to move the department forward and provide the best possible service for the citizens while doing this with a limited budget.”