HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublicSafetyCommMinutes2024June20PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REPORT to the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Thursday June 20, 2024
8:30 a.m.
1080 COVERSTONE DRIVE, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES:
Committee Members Present: Chairwoman Heather Lockridge, Kermit Gaither,
Al Siber and Shawn Graber. Josh Ludwig was absent.
Staff and guests present: County Administrator Michel Bollhoefer, Fire &
Rescue Chief Steve Majchrzak, John Jewell, Major Steve Hawkins, Communications
Director Ginger Whitacre and Sheriff Lenny Millholland.
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
1. None
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
1. Update on Company 22:
Mr. Bollhoefer stated that on Wednesday June 26, the Board of Supervisors will
meet in a closed session to discuss the 2 potential sites for Company 22. One being
on 522/Tasker and the other on 277 on the south side of the water tanks.
2. Dispatch operations and leadership:
Director Whitacre gave a brief overview of the Communications department
including call counts, training and retention/hiring of personnel. She stated that the
department is implementing new, cutting-edge programs to current fire dispatching
and a new emergency notification system for the citizens of Frederick County.
3. Update on Sheriff’s office projects:
Sheriff Millholland asked the committee about the status of the Blue Line project.
Chairwoman Lockridge stated that since it was green lighted by the Board of
Supervisors in January, it needs to go to a public hearing for citizen comment before
it is fully executed. The Sheriff also mentioned his office is understaffed by 16
deputies and that the surrounding jurisdictions’ hiring bonuses, starting salaries and
various incentives make hiring and retention difficult.
4. Update of Fire assessment RFP:
Mr. Bollhoefer has implemented the changes requested by the committee and will
be meeting with the Volunteer Fire & Rescue Companies for any additional change
items to the proposed RFP. He will then be sending it to the Public Safety
Committee for final review and then the RFP will go to the Board of Supervisors for
consideration.
Mr. Graber voted to move forward with the process and it was unanimously
consented to by the Public Safety Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Public Safety Committee
Heather Lockridge Al Sibert
Kermit Gaither Shawn Graber
Josh Ludwig