Next Fire Chief recommended for FFD

The City of Fulton could soon have a new Fire Chief on staff, following action taken by the Fulton City Commission May 22, and a recommendation by the interview committee, which included City Manager and Interim Fire Chief Mike Gunn, Code Enforcement Officer Nathan Lamb, George McCain, Kevin Kelley, Executive Director of the Fulton County Transit Authority, Kim Jobe, Matthew Fortner, Shawn Bixler and Fulton Police Chief Allen Poole.

In his update provided to Fulton Mayor David Prater and Commissioners Elaine Forrester and Mickey Reilly Monday night during regular commission session, Gunn shared with the officials that 10-12 applications for the Fulton Fire Chief post had been received and of that number, some had been selected for interviews.

Gunn said an interview via zoom videoconferencing was conducted between the interview committee and Steven Lang, who is currently the Fire Chief of the City of Jennings Fla., and according to Gunn, he possesses the required qualifications to Immediately be certified as a Kentucky firefighter.

During his time at Jennings, Lang was able to acquire equipment and apparatus at a limited cost to the city and was to attract volunteers who would drive over two hours to volunteer at the department in their free time.

The interview committee recommended Steven Lang to the Commission for consideration to be hired as the next Fire Chief.

In February of 2023, Lang had submitted his letter of interest, asking that it be considered as a a formal expression of interest for the position of Fulton’s Fire Chief.

In the letter, a copy of which was provided to The Current, Lang stated “I believe that my 23 years of Fire Service experience, having worked in every position from line firefighter through to Fire Chief in a volunteer and career

setting will bring the necessary skills and abilities to meet your needs. I have been a Fire Chief of The Town of Jennings Florida and Vinnell Arabia Emergency Services over the past few years and helped bring these organizations to a level of proficiency and efficiency by every available metric (Monthly U.S. Government Inspections, Annual U.S. Government Inspections). I am experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of Emergency Services Delivery, Training, Operations, Strategies, Tactics and Fire Prevention and am both comfortable and experienced in working within a multi-national workforce.”

The commission agreed through municipal order, to offer the position to Lang, based upon Gunn’s recommendation, as well as the committee’s.

Field no. 3 at Fulton City Lions Club Park will now be named as a memorial to the late T.J. Long, a longtime coach, volunteer and supporter of Twin Cities Youth League baseball, softball and T-Ball.

Municipal Order 2022-138 was read by City Attorney Allison Whitledge during the Monday night session which designated the field located on Lewis Weaks Boulevard, previously designated as field #3, will now be approved for authorization provided to the Mayor, City Commissioners, City Manager and Twin Cities Youth League members to execute any additional instruments or other documents necessary and appropriate to effectuate and implement the renaming of the ball field, including signage providing for the recognition of the field as T.J. Long field, at Fulton City Park.

Mayor Prater, Commissioners Forester and Reilly approved a request from Fulton resident Keith Burton to coordinate a Juneteenth celebration parade June 17, beginning at 9 a.m. at Benny Gordon Park in Fulton, to follow a route heading south from the park down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and ending at East State Line.

Burton who was present for the meeting, said he planned to use the area of the park for lining up the vehicles on hand for the parade and asked if the city would consider a fire truck to lead off the parade.

Fulton Police Chief Allen Poole said his department would already have officers on hand and available for assistance during the parade, as Gunn shared with the commission that date, June 17, there is a Fulton Tourism Commission Top Gun Car Show scheduled for Lake Street, downtown Fulton, set to begin at noon.

A Memorandum of Understanding with Turning Point Recovery Community Center, for the provision of substance use disorder treatment and professional counseling was accepted and approved by the city commission.

The MOU provides the Fulton City Police and Turning Point, RCC will coordinate to respond to overdose events, ideally, within 24-72 hours following the crisis, with certain conditions possibly requiring a modified window of time for response. The mutual desire of the City of Fulton law enforcement agency and Turning Point Recovery Community Center is to reach an understanding for implementation and continuation of the Quick Response Team, QRT, within the city of Fulton.

According the FPD Chief Allen Poole, each organization of the MOU is responsible for its own expenses related to the MOU. Bot parties will collaborate to identify communities in need of assertive outreach to reduce barriers, provide harm reduction and education tin reference to drug overdose and substance use disorder.

The City Manager was authorized to advertise for a ASAP, Alcohol Substance Abuse Program Coordinator through Municipal Order 2022-144. The Fulton City Police Department is to provide office space and administrative support to the coordinator, with nine months of seasonal employment for the coordinator. The ASAP board will provide funding for salary and employee expenses at the rate of $25 per hour.

The Mayor was authorized to sign an agreement for sharing the cost of the operation for Fulton County Dispatch, in the amount of $72,620 annually, which includes an increase of $2400 for the upcoming fiscal year. The city of Hickman and Fulton County also share in the cost.

Gunn provided to the Mayor and Commissioners information relating to the composition of the city’s fiscal year 2023-2024 budget, for their review. The commission determined the first reading of the new proposed budget would be conducted at the June 12 city commission meeting.

During discussion regarding the budget, Gunn proposed the city absorb the increase in cost for the city employees healthcare insurance. He also reported the budget, as has been the case this year, will be “operational” with no funding allotted for capital projects. He shared the city had a good year regarding expenses, however there had been major purchases made, such as vehicles.

Mayor Prater said he would like to see “some” capital funds available within each department, and Commissioner Reilly said he would like to see an option for “per use” pickup of bulk trash to be explored, and compare pricing for such a service. Gunn reminded the commission APPA funds were still available, approximately half a million, and must be expended by 2025.
Municipal Order 2022-140 authorized the rescinding of Municipal Order 2022-122, dated April 10, 2023, for non compliance on the bid submitted for a one-ton utility truck. Gunn reported when the time arrived to pick up the truck and pay for the truck from the facility previously submitting the bid, the truck was not at the location and the bid price submitted could not be met.

Instead, a bid from Bob Hook Chevrolet in Louisville, Ky. for a 2023 Silverado 3500 DRW Crew Cab Truck for the city’s Public Works Department was accepted, with delivery to be made by the end of the week.

A bid in the amount of $300 was accepted for a 2007 black Chevy Impala, from Tim Dickson, a vehicle previousl declared as city surplus property. A bid for the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria in the amount of $300 was accepted from LaVonte Johnson, with that vehicle also having been previously declared as city surplus.

Kenney Etherton’s letter of resignation from the Fulton Parks Board was accepted by the commission, effective June 30. Gunn and Mayor Prater thanked Etherton for his years of service as Chairman of the Fulton Parks Board, having held that position since the board’s inception.

Commissioners Jeff Vaughn and Darcy Linn were absent.