SCOTT COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDERS FORM COUNTYWIDE ASSOCIATION

CHAFFEE -- A group of North Scott County emergency services providers has formed a countywide association to provide better protection for residents of Scott and surrounding counties.

Korky Bryant, secretary-treasurer of the Scott County Emergency Services Association Inc., and a member of the North Scott County Ambulance District, said the association's first meeting was held Feb. 17 at the Chaffee Fire Department.

He said: "The purpose of the association is to better protect the health, welfare, lives, and property of the people who live in Scott County and neighboring counties by providing a means of improving the cooperation between the various member organizations of the association. The other goal of the association is to improve the training and professionalism of the individuals that make up the member organizations."

Bob Stokes of the Oran Rescue Squad was appointed president; Mike Westrich of the New Hamburg-Benton-Commerce Fire Protection District is vice president, and Jay Cassout of the Scott City Fire Department is alternate secretary-treasurer. They will serve until permanent officers are elected.

Organizations represented at the meeting included the Scott County Sheriff's Department, New Hamburg-Benton-Commerce Fire Protection District, Scott City Fire Department, Chaffee Fire Department, North Scott County Ambulance District, Miner Fire Department, Oran Fire Department, Scott County Rural Fire Protection District, and the Oran Rescue Squad.

Bryant said the idea of a countywide emergency services association was discussed as early as a year ago. However, with the possibility of a countywide 911 emergency telephone service coming on line within the next two years in Scott County, plus new state and federal regulations concerning training of emergency services providers, Bryant said many of the providers felt it was time to organize.

He said: "As emergency services providers, we must have a single voice in the planning and education of a countywide 911 system. We feel the association can be instrumental in providing a means of working out the various needs and wants of the emergency services providers of the county for consideration by the 911 committee and the county commission."

Bryant said the association will also help providers meet new training requirements. "For the present and in the future the citizens of Scott County and other areas of the state will expect and demand more and better services from the emergency services providers that serve them," he said. "It is important that we, as providers, perform our tasks at the level of competency expected."

Bryant said by coming together member organizations and their employees can improve their skills, share the workload, educate the public, and assist each other in accomplishing the overall job of providing a quality emergency service in the county.

"It doesn't make any difference whether it is a full-time paid organization or an unpaid volunteer organization. We must all meet the same training standards and demands from the citizens for the best possible emergency services."

Bryant said an emergency services association will also give its members a financial advantage when purchase equipment. "As an association of individual emergency services providers, we'll have better buying power when purchasing emergency services equipment. This will really provide a financial benefit for the smaller fire departments.

"We urge all emergency services organizations in Scott County and surrounding counties that are interested in the association to send a representative to our next meeting." The next meeting will be held March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Chaffee Fire Station.