CCFES Recognized At Utility Council Meeting

From Cherokee FD: Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services was recognized yesterday at the regular monthly meeting of the Utility Coordinating Council (UCC) that was held at Fields Landing Park.

Lori Jones, who works with Cherokee County Engineering and is Chairman of the local GUCC, said “We wanted to thank and recognize all who participated in the “Safe Digging Proclamations” this year by inviting them to our luncheon meeting. The ones who participated were the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, City of Holly Springs, City of Ball Ground, City of Woodstock, City of Waleska and last but not least, the first fire department in the state to make a proclamation, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services! These “Safe Digging” Proclamations this year has resulted in new work relationships and strengthened Cherokee County as a whole.” GA811, which is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preventing damage to Georgia’s underground utilities and promoting public safety, rewards the utility group for spreading the “Safe Digging” message via proclamations. “We received an unprecedented total of six proclamations for Cherokee County, the most in the state this year. Because of this, the people at GA811 provided the lunch for our members,” added Jones.

After lunch, Meghan Wade, President of GA811, came forward to speak to the group about GA811. Local Utility Coordinating Committees are formed usually by the county (in some cases multi-counties) and are created to enhance communication between the utility companies in the area and also the excavation community. At the local meetings, each company is provided an opportunity to bring us issues they need resolved, projects and subdivisions they may be working on/in and any additional information they feel will be useful to the other utility companies, excavators and locators present. The local committee provides a venue to share local issues and vital information. Additionally these meetings provide for an opportunity to have a program ranging from onsite speakers, videos and PowerPoint. Remember, before you dig, call 811.

Image via Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services