911 Employees Receive CPR Life Saver Awards

Press release from Cherokee County:

Oct. 28, 2022

Eight E 9-1-1 employees were recognized Tuesday night for their lifesaving efforts.

“I think it’s fair to say 9-1-1 is really the heart of our public safety system,” said Chairman Harry Johnston. “Not only do these folks dispatch other agencies, but they intervene themselves and save lives. Thank you to all of the 9-1-1 folks for what you do.”

The seven employees were given CPR Life Saver awards. Quality Assurance Officer Tammy Dodd, who reviews every medical call the E 9-1-1 Center receives, explained that a qualified save for an E 9-1-1 dispatcher is when a dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 call where the patient has no pulse. The 9-1-1 dispatcher gives the caller instructions to administer CPR until someone from fire or police/sheriff arrives on scene. The call is not considered a CPR save until it is confirmed that the patient arrived at the hospital with a pulse.

E 9-1-1 Director Shane Bonebrake, Public Services Agency Director Dana Martin, and E 9-1-1 Deputy Directors Linda Miller and Alice Fennell were present to congratulate each recipient.
Dispatcher Robin Tobin was recognized three times for her CPR saves on Oct. 14, 2021, March 5, 2022 and July 15, 2022. Andrew Stitt was recognized twice for his saves on Jan. 22, 2022 (one of his first calls out of training), and on Feb. 28, 2022. Brittney Frimodig was honored for her save on Oct. 13, 2021, and Jessica Hashimoto earned a CPR save on Feb. 18, 2022. Andrew Albach was recognized for his save on March 18, 2022, and Cindy Brookshire received a CPR Save Award for her save on May 5, 2022.

Erin Castle and Katie Ball were not present but received acknowledgements for their saves on Feb. 24, 2022 and Feb. 25, 2022, respectively.

In other business, the Board of Commissioners:

• Proclaimed Oct. 24, 2022 World Polio Day in Cherokee County. Rotary Club of Towne Lake President Jim Klynman and Rotary Club of Canton President Elect Francisco Lozano were present to accept the proclamation on behalf of their Clubs.
• Tabled, with a 5-0 vote, three agenda items related to the settlement with Scenic Summit Partners. The item will be revisited at the Nov. 15 meeting. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, the work session, executive session and regular meeting minutes from Oct. 4. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Held a public hearing related to modification of zoning conditions for St. Agnes Foundation of North Georgia Angel House, Inc. The North Georgia Angel House is seeking to add several structures and additional residents on the property. The applicant was the only person to speak during the public hearing. Commissioner West motioned to table the decision on the request to the Nov. 1 meeting in order to review the request further and have a site visit for more clarity. Commissioner Weatherby seconded the motion, which was approved with a 5-0 vote.
• Held a public hearing to extend the moratorium on storage facilities in unincorporated Cherokee County. No one spoke. Staff is reviewing the current ordinances and plans to propose text amendments and changes to the Board related to outdoor storage and self-storage facilities. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the 90-day moratorium, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 5-0, under the consent agenda: an agreement with SiteMed North America for fire department physicals; an agreement with T&T Uniforms for the fire department; an ARPA subrecipient agreement with Goodwill of North Georgia for job training equipment; an ARPA subrecipient with Heritage Presbyterian Church for improvements to support their food pantry program; an ARPA subrecipient agreement with Next Steps Ministries for a handicap transport van; a local assistance and tribal consistency fund ARPA allocation; a GDOT 5311 supplemental agreement to FY2021 capital for additional funds and time extension; acceptance of a $7,000 Amicalola EMC donation and a corresponding budget amendment for the fire department’s Explorer program; the Milton Overlook conservation easement; the adoption of the 2022 CIE/CWP annual report; and an amendment to the agreement for Senior Services meal delivery program. District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion, which was seconded by District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, a relocation agreement with Georgia Power for the Shoal Creek Road over Puckett Creek improvement. The cost is $72,047. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, an application to the Georgia Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2024 for $526,000 for operating assistance and $301,420 in capital costs associated with the CATS 5311 Rural Transportation Program. The county’s obligation is $263,000 for operations and $30,142 for capital purchases. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, changes to the pension plan to reduce its cost and keep it financially viable. The changes only apply to new employees hired after Jan. 1, 2023. For early retirement without penalty, new employees must reach the Rule of 75 (age plus years of service) with a minimum retirement age of 55. Existing employees will remain under the Rule of 70 with no minimum age. In addition, final payout of unused vacation and sick time will be excluded from pensionable earnings for new employees. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, the community risk assessment and standards of cover for the fire department, which are components of a highly prestigious international accreditation process. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the purchase of three Ford Expeditions and one Chevrolet Tahoe for Fire & Emergency Services. The cost is $147,771 for the three Expeditions and $42,205 for the Tahoe. The vote also included a corresponding budget amendment and the approval of the purchase and installation for ProLogic to install the lighting packages on the Expeditions. That cost is $39,399.97. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the purchase of office furniture for the fourth judge’s suite and Juvenile Court Clerk’s office. The cost is $82,768.91. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 5-0, awarding the standard construction services agreement to Ward Humphrey Inc. for the new headquarters for the K-9 unit and Traffic Enforcement Unit. The total cost for the 7,819-square-foot and 5,014-square-foot buildings for offices and eight kennels is $5.5 million. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, the purchase of 40 rifles for the Sheriff’s Office with a total cost of $58,160. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Approved, 5-0, an extension to the current agreement with Email Integrity Solution as required by the county’s cybersecurity insurance carrier. The not-to-exceed amount is $55,886. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Ragsdale.
• Approved, 5-0, a speed hump request on Owens Road. Commissioner Ragsdale made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a speed hump request on Stockwood Drive. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, a multi-way stop request at Farmington Drive and Lexington Drive. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 5-0, an intergovernmental agreement with Forsyth County and the Cherokee Water and Sewerage Authority related to the development known as the Puckett Assemblage Project. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.

This press release was produced by Cherokee County. The views expressed here are the author's own.