Hagan to administer county fire departments

Sample of possible swine flu sent to CDC

CHIPLEY – The Washington County Board of County Commissioners approved appointing Public Safety Director Roger Dale Hagan to administer the 11 county fire departments. Action was taken at the BOCC’s regular meeting Thursday.

The fire departments were effectively put under public safety where Hagan would work with departments on budgets, as liaison with the BOCC, and other issues. Hagan said he would not tell departments how to fight fires.

Hagan noted during discussion of the Sunny Hills Volunteer Fire Department’s roster (see related article) that only two of nine fire departments turn in rosters to be sent to Tallahassee to check on firefighter certification. He also said that several departments have just one or two certified firefighters.

Hagan in his role of Emergency Management Agency director, and Health Director Rick Davis, gave an update on swine flu. Davis said there are daily conference calls with state and federal officials. He said the consensus is that while the flu is not a severe disease yet, that experts think it is coming.

“On a scale of one to five it’s a one,” he said. That scale is used by public health officials to gauge the severity of a health issue.

There are daily conference calls with the hospital and local physicians to keep everyone informed and get news of possible outbreaks. One possible swine flu sample has been sent to the state and subsequently to the federal Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA. No state labs can test for swine flu so samples must go to the CDC.

Hagan said the Health Department and the Emergency Operations Center are working closely in case the EOC is activated, especially in case of a declaration of a local state of emergency based on a recommendation from the Health Department.

In other business, the BOCC:

•Heard that Wausau has been approved for $1.63 million in grants and loans from the USDA, with that funding to be used to renovate most of the city’s water system over a 20-year program

•Heard a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goff read commending county workers Donnie Pugh and Jay Davis for excellent work on sodding on Piney Grove Road

•Heard a progress report from Jim Town on the Florida Landings and Spring Ridge developments in Sunny Hills. Both developments would be under separate management based on the Community Development District previously created by the BOCC, and would have homeowners’ associations with restrictive deeds and covenants

•Heard a request from Bill Williams of Williams Road near Alligator Creek not to haul any more dirt to the road as it ends up in the creek after heavy rains. The BOCC will look at other options

•Heard that there was insufficient tracking data for a mosquito program

•Heard that river readings at Caryville, Ebro and Vernon are gradually going down

•Heard that there would be a briefing at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the EOC for municipalities on debris sites to handle debris from the recent storms. Firetower Pit on State 77 south will be open for sure. County crews would work six days a week on storm damage

•Heard that state and federal teams are doing assessments on storm damage and will do declarations; information on individual assessments is available at chipleypaper.com or at the EOC. Wausau City Hall may be the site for people to fill out individual applications

•Heard a report on roadwork from County Engineer Cliff Knauer

•Heard that the sector plan proposal for the Knight property (Moody’s Pasture) was rejected by the state Department of Community Affairs, and approved sending another letter in support of the sector plan by a 4-1 vote, with Howell opposing. Bay County and Ebro have also sent letters.

•Approved allowing Project Graduation to use any county building at no fee

•Heard that Washington County law enforcement would get about $300,000 in stimulus money under a Byrne grant, approved a certificate of participation with the sheriff acting as administrator. Officials will discuss how to divide the funds between the county and Chipley

•Approved donating a surplus Ford F350 panel truck to Ebro Volunteer Fire Department

•Approved paying a $61,887.31 “overage’ on various road projects from an impact fee fund