“This is the first time we have had (EMA director) certification in Catoosa County,” Hale said. “Through the support of the commission, it is my duty to know where every chemical is stored and where every manufacturing facility is located.”
Hale has completed studies in various areas, including responding to terrorism, chemical agents or devices.
Hale also is required to be familiar with the traffic of chemicals throughout the county.
“I have to know every chemical coming through possibly by train and know how to react in case there is a derailment or spill,” he said.
By completing training, Hale is more familiar with available resources in case of emergency.
“I did not know I’ve got unlimited resources in the case of a disaster,” he said. “I can go to any hardware store, and I can pre-empt their store for whatever is needed. Of course, I have to pay it back.”
Hale already has a staff, including Jim Callaway and Jim White as deputy directors, Charlcie Stamey, Pat Silcox as Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) liason and Catoosa County Fire-Rescue Captain Clyde Ingle as training officer, among others, but more are needed.
“This is a team, a unified effort,” Hale said. “The commissioners are my support. They give me the authority to do what I do.”
In other county business on Aug. 7 and Aug. 9:
* Sheriff Phil Summers notified Board of Commissioners that the Sheriff’s Department will be receiving a free money grant of $12,140 from the State of Georgia that will be used to upgrade video equipment in their cars.
Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reject a request for a waiver of requirements in the jail construction contract. Hale made the motion. Commissioner Pat Page seconded.
Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the county attorney to advertise the sell of three tracts of county property in the county paper and other appropriate publications. Page made the motion. Commissioner Hudon Tatum seconded. Hale, who made a failed motion to postpone the sale until an appraisal is done, voted against the motion. “We are doing a disservice to the people of this county,” Hale said. “This property is worth more than the value; until we have an appraisal we will not know the real value,” he said.
Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to pave 4/10 of a mile of roads, including Harris Drive (1/10 mile), Tinker Road (2/10 mile) and Hinton Lane (2/10 mile). Tatum made the motion. Page seconded. Commissioner Tatum said approximate cost will be under $20,000 and will come out of SPLOST (special-purpose local-options sales tax).
Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to begin Oct. 1 a 90-day trial to utilize the Nutrition Center for a Teen Center in the afternoons and on Saturday nights. Commissioner Mark Fletcher made the motion. Page seconded.
Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the budget for fiscal year 2001-2002.
Catoosa County Board of Commissioners will meet again Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex in Ringgold
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