WalkerMommy
Joined: 11/26/2007
Posts: 41
Occupation: Hard working gal

Recent Comments by WalkerMommy
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
08/29/2008 10:27:29 AM
Juga - I can't believe it! We agree!! :) For the life of me, I cannot understand why someone would be upset about this plan. I know of businesses that actually give their employees a monetary bonus for increasing their fitness level because of the overall savings it provides the company. I agree that if other fitness centers were interested in pursuing the county as a client, they should have done it well before now.
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
07/11/2008 01:09:42 PM
Fair point on me not being specific.

Walker County fire department has 18 stations. Three of these have career staff. One station is manned 24 hours a day. The other two have crews Monday-Friday from 7-5 (when most of us are at work). These stations were spread throughout the county to provide a prompt response when needed.

I, too have been cancelled on calls. And it is really not that big of a deal. In my opinion, we all (career and volunteer) are here to help people. And if the career staff can get there before I can, great! That means who ever needed help is getting it sooner. I think that is a GOOD thing. And if I can cancelled, no big deal. And since all of the volunteers live reasonably close to our stations (usually less than 5 miles) it really isn't a big use of fuel.

I think the Metro Atlanta stuff is simply a slap in the face towards Chief Camp and Chief Pollard (the deputy chief), both of whom have worked there. Like I said, I don't know how someone could draw similarities between the two.

As far as them being away from the stations - I don't want you to think they are never there but I don't want to give you the impression they just sit around and wait for something to do. While there are duties that keep them away from the station, they are also plenty of other duties that keep them there. Also, Fire Headquarters almost always has someone there if a citizen stops and needs help and there is equipment there to be used even if the paid firefighters are gone.

Certainly, I am not going to be able to answer all of your questions or address all of your concerns. I would again (for the umpteenth time) encourage you to call Fire Headquarters. If you don't think you will get straight answers from Chief Camp, then talk to someone else there. Waymond Westbrook is well known in the county and I am sure he would talk to you. Or you could even talk to Scotty McClure. Even though he is retired, I am sure he would talk to you about any concerns you may have.
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
07/11/2008 11:35:17 AM
WN - my info also comes from "within" as you put it - I AM A VOLUNTEER! The Cave and Cliff truck went to service in 2003 and the Haz Mat truck was just a couple of years ago. (I didn't mean for you to take it literally when I said "a couple". To me, 5 years is still pretty recent as far as that goes - especially since I had to use that old equipment!).

The paid staff isn't just walking around with no equipment while they are performing these other tasks. They are in the apparatus, ready to respond when needed. And as a volunteer, I certainly am not saying the volunteers aren't needed. But the paid staff IS needed to supplement the volunteer forces. Like all of the other volunteers, I have a job and typically cannot respond during the day.

And again with the general statements. HOW is the department being ran like Metro Atlanta? I personally, know very little about the Atlanta Fire Department so I can't help you draw any similarities. I DO know that the Atlanta Fire Department DOES NOT have volunteers so I don't see how anyone could compare the two.

Also, I was not trying to put words in your mouth. But ONCE AGAIN you spoke so vaguely about "bells and whistles" and I honestly have no idea what you could be talking about. Please be more specific and I can (hopefully) help you understand.
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
07/11/2008 08:06:07 AM
wellnow - please tell me what you think the fire department administration is doing to "run off" the volunteers? Almost ALL of my friends that have left the fire department have done so on good terms. They simply do not have the time any more because of family commitments - kids playing sports, church involvement, etc. Like any organization, their are going to be people who disagree with decisions that are made by the leadership but I think it is stretching it just a bit to say that the leadership is running people off.

As for the paid staff, yes, they respond to house fires, brush fires, and medical calls (with the defibrillators - better known as AEDs). They also flow and test fire hydrants to ensure they are ready when needed, they develop and update plans for all county business, church, and school buildings in case there is a fire at that locations (this gives them an idea of the layout of the building and any known hazards associated with the facility). And they train, train, train. These guys are CONSTANTLY attending and teaching classes to improve their skills to be able to serve US as best they can. It is really, really, really hurtful to see people knocking these guys and gals who work so hard for you. I know we aren't a major Metro area but, people, fire is fire. And it is dangerous whether it is in Cobb County or Walker County.

As for the bells and whistles on the fire trucks - YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!! Just a couple of years ago, the Cave and Cliff team was working out of a surplus military blazer from the Desert Storm era and the Haz Mat team responded in an old Coca-Cola delivery truck!!! I know people have had heartburn in the past because of what they perceive to be too much chrome on the trucks. The fire trucks have diamond plating on them to protect them and those panels are only made from a chrome material. And I certainly do not consider air conditioning a perk - it is a necessity! In your personal car, you can get by with windows only. But try riding with windows only, in the middle of August after having just spend 5 hours on a working structure fire in your protective gear.

I have said this before but no one seems to hear it. CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. TALK TO THE FIRE CHIEF. I know Chief Camp is willing to talk to anyone that comes by and has concerns or questions. The problem is that no one does that. They just continue to spread rumors and talk about stuff they truly have no idea about. I mean, seriously, how many years has the "hidden fire truck that cost 1 millions dollars and has a ladder that will raise 180 feet" been going around? I think during the last election, a blogger stated it was being hidden at the Waterville fire station. Walker County doesn't even HAVE a Waterville fire station. If someone, anyone, just 1 person would make the effort to find out the facts, I think most of you on here would have a whole new opinion of the fire department and all that they do to make you and your family safe.
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
07/10/2008 05:04:28 PM
Horray for Jsprayberry and youngpup!

Having lived in Catoosa County for two-thirds of my life, I can say confidently that Walker County is a much better, wonderful community to live, work and play. We enjoy a very high standard of government provided services for a very low cost and this is truly a reflection of the county leadership - both the commissioner and the department heads she employees.
Real workout: County’s new fitness program drawing criticism
07/09/2008 01:45:08 PM
USAFVET - your very first post on here started by saying you weren't trying to bash anyone. Guess that doesn't include other bloggers, huh?

And if you don't like the way that your perceived the Commissioner to be driving - call her yourself! She has an open door policy and is really, really good about returning calls if she is unavailable at the time.
State of the County address: Walker County commissioner praises community involvement
07/04/2008 05:52:12 PM
Ok. Everyone keeps talking about PlyMart leaving like they just decided they didn't like Walker County and would go somewhere else. Check it out, people. PlyMart had so many of its customer's file bankrupcy they had to close all but 5 stores. That is the effect of the national economy, plain and simple. So, the rail spur may not be used by PlyMart now, but it is available as a "selling point" for other industries looking at the county.
State of the County address: Walker County commissioner praises community involvement
07/03/2008 11:09:30 AM
Exactly! We have VERY few tourist attractions and they one we do have, people have to leave it for the basics - shelter, food, beverages...Let's make it so you can just stay there and enjoy what's around you! Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not for residential development or major commercialization on the mountain. Just a nice lodge and maybe some overnight cabins. I've been to Alaska and seen this done very nicely. It is certainly possible to create a tourist destination without destroying the environment those tourists are they for.
State of the County address: Walker County commissioner praises community involvement
07/03/2008 08:16:03 AM
mdsp - I agree that alot of people certainly do take advantage of roughing it on Pigeon. I can also say that after a 12 hour Ellison trip, I would LOVE to drag my whipped self into a lodge with hot showers and comfy beds as opposed to crawling back into my tent with wet ones for my shower and a ridgerest for my mattress. I love taking people to Pigeon so they can enjoy it. I think you have the old school caver mentality of "don't tell anyone about it because then it will be ruined". Trust me - I have plenty of friends who explore and keep it to themselves for this exact reason. I think a beautiful area like Pigeon and Mountain Cove should be shared and if we can protect it while prospering the county, all the better!
State of the County address: Walker County commissioner praises community involvement
07/02/2008 04:50:40 PM
youngpup - you are my hero. THANK YOU for being willing to research and only post FACTS on here! How refreshing!!