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GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO STATION 31.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE POSTING OF THE COLORS FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION HONOR GUARD COMMANDER, POST COLORS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DEDICATE THIS STATION.
WE PRAY YOUR GRACE AND MERCY WILL BE UPON TO BE WITH EVERYONE THAT SERVES THROUGH THIS STATION OR THAT YOU WILL WATCH OVER THEM.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON BOLTON AND UPON THE BLUFFTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE PRAY YOUR GRACE BE WITH US EVERY DAY IN YOUR NAME.
AND, UH, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
IT'S BEEN A LONG PROJECT, UH, FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THIS IS A SPECIAL PROJECT AND IT INVOLVED SEVERAL AGENCIES COMING TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER, TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE.
AND WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF WHAT, WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS, UH, THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE, UH, THE COUNTY COUNTY EMS, THE FIRE DISTRICT, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO, UM, TO CREATE WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR GUESTS.
UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL OUT THERE.
UH, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR FIREBOARD.
I'LL SEE, UH, MR. CROBE AND MR. PELL OVER THERE.
UH, FROM THE COUNTY, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER REP OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WE HAVE.
UH, WE HAVE MR. GREENLEY, MR. FOOTE, UM, MS. OWEN B FROM THE EMS, OUR PROJECT MANAGER, WEST CAMPBELL, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO WEST WHO HAD HE PLAYED THE, TOOK A YEOMAN'S ROLE IN THIS PROCESS AND, AND GOT US HERE.
UM, I SEE, UH, HEATHER COLIN FROM THE TOWN, UH, AND OTHERS OUT THERE.
IF I'VE MISSED ANYBODY, I APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS, UH, WHAT YOU SEE HERE REALLY SHOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CAN COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SOMETHING.
UH, WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF IT.
AND AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD, MR. MARK LAWSON, DISTRICT NINE FROM BUFORD COUNTY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
[00:05:11]
GOOD MORNING.AND DON'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THOSE, THOSE PAGES.
THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY LARGE PRINT, SO I'LL BE VERY QUICK.
BUT TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THE MUCH NEEDED EXPANSION OF OUR FIRE AND EMS IN BUFORD COUNTY.
UH, THIS EMS FIRE STATION WAS ONE OF TWO IDENTIFIED BACK IN 2014, SHANKLIN ROAD OPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND NOW WE'RE HERE TO DEDICATE AND OPEN THE RED BARN, EMS FIRE STATION, NUMBER 31, THE MAN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR BY A AMBULANCE AND CREW, AND ALSO OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT.
THIS STATION IS A $3.4 MILLION STATE-OF-THE-ART JOINT PROJECT.
AS CHIEF THOMPSON MENTIONED, UM, BETWEEN, UH, THE COUNTY, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND THE BLUFFTON FIRE DISTRICT.
UH, THE COOL THING IS THAT THIS WAS ACTUALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT BY TWO LOCAL BLUFFTON COMPANIES, UH, COURT ATKINS ARCHITECT, AND ALSO, UM, UH, FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
SO THAT'S ALSO GREAT THAT WE HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE WORKING HERE AND DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB FOR US.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT NINE, I THOUGHT, HOW COOL IS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT US AS POLITICIANS GET TO TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING WE HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH? SO I, I SAY THAT IN THE FACT THAT WE APPROVED THIS BACK IN MAY OF 2019 FOR FUNDING, UM, BUT IT'S THE STAFF AND EVERYONE BEHIND US, UM, THAT, THAT HAS MADE THIS, THIS HAPPENED.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO, AT THIS TIME, UH, RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR STAFF FROM OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, JARED FRAELICH, UM, ALSO ANDREA ATHERTON, AND AS, AS, UM, CHIEF THOMPSON HAD MENTIONED, UM, WEST CAMPBELL HAD A BIG PART IN THIS, AND THEN ALSO PATRICK HILL FROM OUR IT DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING NOW WITHOUT IT.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
THIS FACILITY AND, AND CREWS WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THIS AREA.
UH, BLUFFTON, AS WE SEE, HAS BEEN GROWING AND IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY, UM, THIS FACILITY WILL ADD AND RESPONSE TIMES, WHICH WE KNOW SAVES LIVES, SAVES PROPERTY AND KEEPS OUR PUBLIC SAFE, UM, FIRE STATION HERE, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE COVERING AREAS FROM BLUFFTON PARKWAY, FRITSCHER BILL PALMETTO BLUFF, AND THEN OUR EVER-GROWING NEW RIVERSIDE THAT WE HAVE HERE, WHICH, WHICH, UM, IS EXPANDING EVERY DAY IN JUST LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
UM, WE HAD COVID THAT OCCURRED, UH, WHICH HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING.
AND EVEN BACK THEN, OUR EXPERTS COULDN'T TELL US HOW DEADLY OR HOW CONTAGIOUS IT WAS.
AND SO TODAY, LIKE THE POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WHENEVER WE DIDN'T KNOW, UM, EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED DOWN AND WE WERE WORRYING FOR OUR OWN FAMILY AND OUR OWN AND OUR OWN SAFETY OF, OF CATCHING COVID.
AND, AND WE'VE RECENTLY HAD EVEN SOME MORE BLUFFTON FOLKS THAT HAVE DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS OF COVID RECENTLY, BUT OUR EMS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS WERE STILL GOING OUT EVERY DAY.
UM, THEY PUT THEMSELVES INTO, UM, IN HARM'S WAY TO DO PROTECT US, AND THEY STILL DO THAT TODAY.
UM, SO ON BEHALF OF, UM, UH, BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL AND MYSELF, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERY STAFF MEMBER OF THE EMS, UH, BUFORD COUNTY AND ALSO THE BLUFFTON AND FIRE DISTRICT FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO, UH, TO HELP SAVE LIVES, PROVIDE THE BEST FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TO ALL THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, LISA SACA FOR THEIR COOPERATION.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE BLUFFTON FIRE DISTRICT AND THEIR DIRECTORS AND THEIR MEMBERS, OR THEIR COOPERATION, AGAIN, PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, MR. PHIL FOOT, HE'S SOMEBODY THAT LIKES TO STAY BEHIND THE SCENES.
HE'S SOMEBODY THAT, THAT, UH, YOU DON'T HEAR FROM, BUT YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, PHIL, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, ALSO, UM, DIRECTOR OF EMS, UH, DONNA OWENS, OSB, UH, AND OBVIOUSLY CHIEF THOMPSON WHO HAS PUT SO MUCH INTO THIS, UM, THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY RISE TO THE CHALLENGE, UH, DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK ERIC GREENWAY OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO COME FORWARD AND CONGRATULATE HIM IN HIS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
UM, I KNOW, UH, WORKING FOR THE COUNTY IT'S, IT'S LIKE DOG YEARS, IT PROBABLY FEELS LIKE SEVEN YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE NOW.
SO, BUT AGAIN, WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
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SO I TURN IT OVER TO YOU.MY REMARKS WILL BE A VERY BRIEF, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HERE IS THAT, UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THIS AREA IS THE AMOUNT OF TALENT THAT EXISTS HERE AMONGST ALL THE JURISDICTIONS AND BUFORD COUNTY AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
UH, WE ENJOY A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TALENTED STAFF, FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
WE HAVE TALENTED STAFF IN BUFORD COUNTY THAT ARE CAPABLE OF OVERSEEING AND PULLING THINGS LIKE THIS OFF.
WE HAVE TALENTED STAFF IN OUR EMS DIVISIONS THAT GO OUT EVERY DAY AND SEE THINGS THAT ONLY MANY OF US COULD IMAGINE, AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION AND THEY'LL LIVE WITH IT AFTER THE FACT.
SO I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THE FOLKS THAT SERVE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, CHIEF THOMPSON, UH, DAN WILL SEE ALL THE FOLKS AT BLUFFTON FIRE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO YOU FOR COUNTY WHO ALSO SEE THINGS THAT I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE SITUATIONS AND DEAL WITH THE SITUATIONS AND OUR MARGINS.
SEE, AND THEN TO CARRY THAT WITH YOU AFTER THE FACT.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, THANKS TO WEST CAMPBELL, JARED FRAELICH FOR PULLING THIS OFF WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE DESIGN FIRM AND BRITTANY FIELDS IS OUR CAPITOL PERSON, UH, AT THE COUNTY.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO.
UH, PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, HAVE YOU FREE COUNTY.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S NOT AS HARD AS IT MAY LOOK ON OCCASION BECAUSE I HAVE, UH, FOLKS SURROUNDING ME THAT WORKED WITH ME TO MAKE ME LOOK GOOD, UH, IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY EVERY DAY.
AND I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY WITH YOU ALL, AND TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY, UH, IN THIS, UH, WAY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEW TOWN OF BLUFFTON MANAGER.
STEVEN STACY IS HERE WITH US TODAY AS WELL.
I AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAN WOOD, WHO IS ALSO HERE.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU CHIEF OR THANK YOU, MS. HOMIE, YOUR TURN.
UM, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE GRAND OPENING OF STATION 31, EMS AND FIRE ALSO KNOWN AS RED BARN FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST UNIQUE BLEND OF PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER FIND AS THEY WERE SAYING.
THEY PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE EVERY DAY FOR STRANGERS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW, NEVER KNOWING WHAT EVERY DAY IS GOING TO BRING, BUT THEY DON'T MIND.
AND IT'S NOT FOR THE GLORY IS NOT FOR THE MONEY IT'S BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND THEY WANT TO HELP THEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, BUT IT ALSO TAKES A VILLAGE TO PROVIDE A PERFECT SYSTEM OF EMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE TO DO WHAT WE DO TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WERE GOING TO DO OUR BEST AND EVERYBODY TRAINS OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO MAKE US BETTER EVERY DAY.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A NEW STATION LIKE THIS, IT'S NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHEN YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING ALL DAY RUNNING ALL NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN COME BACK TO US, NICE, CLEAN A PLACE TO REST, A LITTLE PLACE TO DIGRESS A LITTLE BIT.
SO IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE TYPE OF BUILDINGS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING, TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY AND RECOGNIZING THE EMS, POLICE, FIRE, EVERYBODY THAT PUTS THEIR PART IN THIS TO SAY, KEEP YOU FOR COUNTY.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
I'M WAITING ON SUN CITY AND A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT EVERY TIME WE PLACE A STATION SOMEWHERE, IT DOES CUT DOWN RESPONSE TIMES, WHICH MAKES IT A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN WHAT SACRED PLACE FOR THE CITIZENS OF BE FREE COUNTY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, MAYOR? WELL, THANK YOU, CHIEF DITTO REALLY IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE REPRESENT ALMOST 32,000 RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY AND THE LARGEST GROWTH AREA IS RIGHT HERE.
AND I SEE A LOT OF CITIZENS HERE TODAY, SO REALLY I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL.
YOUR SUPPORT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
UM, PESTERING DID PRAY A LITTLE BIT FOR BLUFFTON PD AND THEN CHANGED IT TO FIRE, BUT
[00:15:01]
WE ALL PRAY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A TOWN THAT TRULY TRULY SUPPORTS YOU, UM, IN EVERY WAY.I LOVE HOW WE ARE KIND OF GOING INTO THIS NAMING OF OUR FIRE STATIONS.
WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 93, WE HAD, I THINK WE HAD ONE FIRE STATION.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF WE HAD THAT.
I KNOW THE TOWN HAD ONE FIRE TRUCK, BUT I NEVER KNEW THE STATION NUMBER.
SO WE'RE GETTING INTO THAT PERSONAL MODE AND I LOVE STATION THREE AT 31.
UM, IT'S REALLY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND I'M JUST BLESSED TO BE HERE.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WELL, WE'LL TURN IT OVER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW ABOUT THE BUILDING ITSELF TO MAYBE CHIEF PAUL BULL AWARE NOW FOR THE BORING FACTS.
UM, I LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING, BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CITIZENS AND THE TAXPAYERS IN THIS AREA, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS BUILDING TODAY.
UM, LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP TODAY FOR THE CELEBRATING OF OUR GRAND RELOCATION OPENING OF OUR
THE ORIGINAL STATION WAS BUILT AT 1 78 MAY RIVER ROAD, WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD IN THE LATE EIGHTIES FOR VOLUNTEERS TO USE, TO ANSWER THE CALL FOR SERVICE.
WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDED IN 2003, THE FIRE DISTRICT REBUILT THE OLD STATION ON THE SAME SITE AND STAFFED IT WITH FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
18 YEARS LATER, WE FIND OURSELVES NEEDING TO MOVE THE LOCATION TO THE STATION DUE TO GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE GROWTH WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
THE OLD STATION WILL BE UTILIZED TO OPERATE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANNEX FOR THE FIRE DISTRICT, WITH HIS ROLE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT.
THIS NEW FACILITY WAS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE BLUFFTON FIRE DISTRICT AND BUFORD COUNTY AND BEAVER COUNTY EMS TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH BOTH FIRE AND MEDICAL PROTECTION WHILE BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.
THE FIRE DISTRICT USED FUNDS FROM A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND SECURITY IN 2018 AND FROM HIS FIVE IMPACT FEES FROM GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY, FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION WAS THE WINNING BIDDER FOR THIS PROJECT DURING THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS THAT WAS HANDLED THROUGH THE COUNTY'S PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, HEADED BY DAVE THOMAS.
THE FINAL CONTRACT SUM TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT CAME IN AT $3,585,813.
THE BUILDING HERE TODAY INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 8,088 SQUARE FEET UNDER ROOF USING A MIXED WOOD AND MASONARY TYPE CONSTRUCTION.
THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY COURT ATKINS ARCHITECTS FROM PREVIOUS FIRE STATION DESIGNS USED BY THE FIRE DISTRICT AS A PROTOTYPE DESIGN THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED TO FIT THE SITE OF THE LAND OR THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO BE A 50 YEAR STRUCTURE WITH NORMAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
THE STATION HERE PROVIDES OUR MEN AND WOMEN A SAFE PLACE TO WORK AND A DESIGN THAT ALLOWS A GOOD WORKFLOW FOR BOTH DAY AND NIGHTTIME USE THIS PROJECT STARTED BACK IN AUGUST OF 2020.
AND WITH THE CHALLENGING TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN TODAY, THAT IS A DEED IN ITSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION AND ALL THOSE THAT HAD A PART IN THIS PROJECT AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO BOB ROSHI, WHO WAS THE PROJECT SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP MY COUNTERPART MR. WEST CAMPBELL FROM THE COUNTY, BECAUSE HE WAS BOTH A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS.
UH, JUST FROM THE COUNTY STANDPOINT, UH, CAME TO WORK IN BEAVER COUNTY IN OCTOBER OF 2018.
THIS WAS THE FIRST PROJECT PUT ON MY DESK, I GUESS IT'S THREE YEARS IN COUNTY YEARS.
UM, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN VERY COMPLICATED.
FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF MANAGING IT AND OF ACCOMPLISHING IT FOR US BUILDING THE EMS STATION ON SHANKLIN ROAD.
AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, WAS COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS AND DEDICATE THIS FACILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF BUFORD COUNTY.
I WANTED TO THANK THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY.
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE IN BUFORD COUNTY, ALL OF OUR, UH, DIVISIONS, FINANCE PURCHASING, ESPECIALLY ONE TO TWO A SAY MY APPRECIATION TO BRITTANY FIELDS.
SHE'S A COORDINATOR FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS AND DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF HELPING US ALL LOOK GOOD
[00:20:01]
AS ERIC SAID AND GETTING THE JOB DONE SO SPECIAL, SHOUT OUT TO BRITTANY FOR HER WORK.I THINK, UH, DAVE WINFIELD OR WILHELM, UH, UH, JARED FREELUX, UH, IN OUR OFFICE AND EVERYTHING THEY DO TO SUPPORT US.
UH, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EMS. DONNA OWNED ME ALSO, UH, UH, ALL OF HER STAFF THAT HAD PROVIDED INPUT INTO THIS FACILITY AS WE, UH, NOT ONLY DESIGNED IT, BUT BUILT IT TO CHIEF THOMPSON AND PAUL AND THEIR STAFF.
EVERYONE WORKED TOGETHER INCREDIBLY WELL TO GET THIS DONE, AND WE'RE GLAD TO DEDICATED ONSITE AND OWN TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF BUFORD CAMP.
NOW FOR THE, FOR THE FUN PART, WHILE WE'RE HERE FOR THE GRAND OPENING CEREMONY, IF I CAN GET THE KIT, THE COUNTY OFFICIALS TO LINE UP ON THIS SIDE AT THE FIRE HOSE HERE, AND I CAN GET THE FIRE DISTRICT FOLKS TO ATLANTA UP ON THIS SIDE, WE WILL HAVE THE, UH, THE CEREMONIAL UNCOUPLING OF THE HOSE FOLLOWED BY THE RINGING OF THE BELL.
WE WILL RING THREE RINGS THAN ONE RING FOR 31, THEN THREE RINGS, THREE RINGS, AND ONE RING FOR 3 31, WHICH IS THE, THE RADIO INDICATION FOR THE STATION.
YOU READY TO GO?
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING OUT IN THE BACK HERE.
WE'VE GOT THE SECOND HELPINGS FOLKS OUT HERE.
THIS IS TRADITIONALLY A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME, UH, FOR, FOR THEIR, THEIR AGENCY AND COLLECTING FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
UH, I'D STRONGLY, UH, THAT EVERYBODY, IF YOU DIDN'T BRING SOMETHING TODAY, BE SURE AND DROP SOMETHING OFF BY THERE.
NOW THEY'RE HAVING A FOOD DRIVE TODAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A OPEN HOUSE, FEEL FREE TO, TO, OR THROUGH THE STATION.
UH, THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE IN THERE.
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS EMPLOYEES WILL BE IN THERE.
UH, THE PARAMEDICS DMTS TO, UH, TO LEAD YOU THROUGH.
WE'D ALSO HAVE REFRESHMENTS IN THERE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR AUXILIARY, MISS, UM, MS. LESLIE JONES, HART, AND HER CREW.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE EMS PERSONNEL THAT ARE HERE AND ALL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE HERE.
AND JUST SECOND, WHAT WAS MENTIONED SO MANY TIMES, THIS HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR FIRE AND EMS AND POLICE, UH, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY GIVES US.
SO, UH, TILL EVER TILT, TELL THE GUYS AND GIRLS, THANK YOU.
AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
[00:27:28]
I'M JOE BOGUS, AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE BEER FOR COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER MOST RECENTLY FINANCE CHAIR FOR THE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY REWARDING AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY SINCE I BEGAN THE BOARD, MY BOARD TERM, DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE GREAT RECESSION WHEN HE HAD VERY FEW BOOKS AND VERY FEW VISITORS.
BUT OVER TIME, THE BOARD AND LIBRARY LEADERSHIP HAD MANAGED TO REBUILD OUR FINANCE, THAT WE'RE SPENDING MORE ON MATERIALS NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, AND IN A GREATER VARIETY, BOTH HARD COPY AND DIGITAL GROWTH IN BUFORD COUNTY MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY HUSBAND OUR RESOURCES.
AND THIS IS WHERE VOLUNTEERS IN THE LIBRARY PART DO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SUSAN AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 18 YEARS AND WE KNOW THE POSITIVE IMPACT LIBRARIES CAN MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
TODAY'S LIBRARY IS A NEW TOWN HALL, FULL OF VIBRANT MIXTURE OF PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME AND TALENTS.
I'M MAKING BUFORD COUNTY A BETTER PLACE.
THIS IS OUR HOME, AND THIS IS WHY I MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN BOTH MY TIME AND MEN IN MY COMMUNITY.
THIS VERY BRIEFLY IS WHY SERVE, WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER SPENDING YOUR TIME ALSO FOR THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY.
A LISTING OF BUFORD COUNTIES, AGENCIES, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS, OR TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION VISIT WWW DOT BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, BACKSLASH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
DIFFERENT COUNTY IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
AND WE'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED THE COUNTY CHANNEL YOUR SOURCE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY, FROM COUNTY COUNCIL AND MUNICIPALITIES SCHOOL, BOARD, AND LOCAL EVENTS.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL, WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE OR A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE COUNTY CHANNEL SCHEDULE.
GO TO BUBER COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON WATCH NOW AND CHOOSE YOUR SELECTION FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF MEETINGS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS.