We voted, and now we will spend $2.9 Million so that all the firefighters in Escambia County---paid and volunteer--will have brand-new, certified and fully OSHA compliant respirator equipment for use in fighting fires.
We've recently funded millions in change orders for repairs to the fire trucks and also for the purchase of several new engines. We are working a plan for a fire training facility and I am working diligently to modernize the fire station in Beulah--there is $3.5 Million already earmarked for that project. Add to this that over the last 6 years the BCC has increased the fire service budget geometrically--and the reality becomes very clear. This board cares about fire service, and we are putting resources into fire. But we can't fix issues if they are not brought to our attention.
So how did this situation, with the respirators, come to a boiling point so quickly--how was it allowed to come to a point that board members at the 11th hour and 59th minute were told that non-compliant, out of date, and potentially dangerous life-packs were being used by our firefighters in Escambia County?
Like many other issues that we have had to tackle in crisis-mode for the last several years, it appears this situation developed because of a leadership vacuum in which folks in their stove-pipe areas were precluded from coming forward with this issue. Whether it was because of budgets, or perceptions, or fear for job, or [fill in the blank] we the BCC members were not told about this issue. Had we have been told, I am confident we would have acted.
People must have the backbone to bring important issues to their supervisors and then to the board--
and that obviously hasn't happened in some instances because of a leadership vacuum. I believe this is changing, I am cautiously optimistic that it is. Because it MUST!
We have all recently been briefed on ECFR's 5-year plan. And I applaud the effort put into that plan.
I believe there are components of that plan that the board will put into place as we are able and as the budget allows.
But for life safety issues--we will not hesitate and we will not wait---as evidenced by Thursday's vote.
And I am saying this right here, right now: If any firefighter in Escambia County--or any employee of any department for that matter--is subjected to ANY unsafe work condition or the use of unsafe job-necessary equipment----CALL ME! 850-293-1459 is my direct, personal cell phone number and I answer my phone. I will act if I know about it!
Everyone deserves a safe workplace and safe equipment. I look at this as a right for all employees and if something like this is not being addressed for whatever reason, it will be if I know about it.
6 comments:
You were not on this board in 2014 when the problem was first presented, so its hard for you to know the history. The then Chief requested LOST money to curb the issue prior to expiration, yet the lack of vision and need stopped it from progressing to the BoCC for recognition.
The chain of command limits first responders from being able to "call you directly", you know that as a county employee. Yet you still cater to one side of the house for all of their concerns. No talking to fire administration for the allegations, no fact finding prior to accusation, just typical MO for Bergosh- blame game.
You would think with a masters degree, some class you would have taken would have taught you that. Or with you "XX years I was on the School Board" claims.
Anonymous--I wasn't on this board in 2014 you have that right. But for this issue to linger and fester that long with the board not being told is reprehensible and inexcusable. And I don't care what anyone says about chain of command as it pertains to life safety: anyone, of any rank and any length of tenure has the absolute right to safe gear and a safe workplace and I am going to actively encourage anyone who does not feel they are working in a safe environment or working with unsafe gear to call me directly if the chain of command fails to fix the issue. My direct number is 850-293-1459. Because you are right, I do have a Masters Degree---but it doesn't take one to see how a lack of leadership has led to this situation where folks are using unsafe gear and nobody did a damn thing about it until we acted Thursday.
Mr. Bergosh. The scba's issue was discussed on 6/26/19 at the Committee of the Whole meeting at the 2hr 5 minute mark. Purchasing new SCBA's was discussed at the price of 2.8 million. Chief Williams(i believe was his name) said current equipment was past due on flow testing and would cost $500,000 and it was decided that it would be better to use that money towards purchasing new SCBA's. You clearly asked if the current equipment was safe and you was told yes. But yet at the agenda review its said that current SBA'a are unsafe. Makes no sense.
Mixed messages, watch the meeting, they say one thing, another online or on the radio. They need to get their story straight or it seems fire is playing politics. Everyone is not as vocal as the others especially after one of your employees is law suit happy. Conservative relying on representives. I think they could have repaired some equipment.
stop using the word volunteer. there are no volunteer ff's in ecfr. they are paid-on-call. stop it. stop it. stop it. use the correct term, paid-on-call. say it with me, paid "paid", on "on", call "call". very good. now try it on your own. it's really not that difficult. you just want to use that term to pull on the heart strings of those who you won't educate. like any great politician, keep 'em ignorant and you can feed them anything.
"People must have the backbone to bring important issues to their supervisors and then to the board--"
you must also have the backbone to meet with county officials to discuss critical needs of each department. you choose, c-h-o-o-s-e to not meet with the people that are in the day to day ops of the dept. do you not want to know the truth? are you afraid of what you will find out? why not meet w/ the fire chief and ask him what the needs for the fd are instead of getting misconstrued info from those you confide in? the ps director has an idea but it's difficult for the ps director to convey the message in a way that intimately explains the issues. the decision to approve the new scba purchases that ALL ff's of ECFR will utilize, yes the paid-on-call ff's as well, was an easy one. thanks for having the backbone to make such a tough decision. the scba's are or are nearly outdated and the amount to repair and upgrade is minuscule compared to the amount to replace them with all new scba's. the old scba's will be credited to the purchase of the new scba's as has been in the years past. it's not a good look for you to pound your chest and say it takes backbone to make decisions like this. make decisions to make your district, your county better served and protected. maybe then you can pound your chest and show some backbone. don't be afraid of not getting re-elected because you chose to do something unpopular. it would be reprehensible for you to be popular because you failed to provide the necessary funding so that emergency services can protect and serve the way they are designed to.
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