Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
Date 05/24/2016
Agenda Report # 122
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Rural Fire Defense Cooperative Lease Agreement and Memorandum
of Understanding
INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire & EMS
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a Rural Fire Defense
Cooperative Lease Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow
the city of Columbus to be able to obtain specialized brush and wildland
firefighting equipment at no cost to the city through the Georgia Forestry
Commission's screening process.
Background: Due to the intermingling of structures and wildland fuels in
Muscogee County Georgia, the fire safety objectives of the Georgia Forestry
Commission and the Columbus Consolidated Government are inseparable, to
minimize the loss of life and property as a result of uncontrolled fire. The
Commission request that the City enter into a lease agreement between the
Commission and the City. The purposes of the document are:
1. To provide for closest possible cooperation on mutual objectives.
2. To clarify the purpose and responsibilities of each organization.
Analysis: The document has been reviewed by both the Fire Chief and the City
Attorney. The existence of the document is in the mutual best interest of the
City and the Commission. There is no cost to the city. This document will
allow the city to acquire specialized firefighting equipment through the
Commission's screening process, again at no cost to the city. At the end of
one (1) year the equipment becomes the property of the Columbus Consolidated
Government.
Financial Considerations: NONE
Legal Considerations: The agreement last for no more than three (3) years and
may be terminated by either party by thirty (30) days written notice to the
other.
Recommendations/Actions: Approval is requested to enter into a Rural Fire
Defense Cooperative Lease Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding, which will
allow the city of Columbus to be able to obtain specialized brush and wildland
firefighting equipment at no cost to the city through the Georgia Forestry
Commission's screening process.
A RESOLUTION
No. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR FIRE CHIEF TO SIGN AND AGREE
TO THE RURAL FIRE DEFENSE COOPERATIVE LEASE AGREEMENT, AND MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING. BY ESTABLISHING THE AGREEMENT THE CITY OF COLUMBUS WILL BE ABLE
TO OBTAIN SPECIALIZED BRUSH AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT AT NO CHARGE
THROUGH THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION'S SCREENING PROCESS. AFTER OBTAINING
THE EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAINING THAT EQUIPMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR THE
EQUIPMENT CAN EITHER BE RETURNED OR WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE COLUMBUS
CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WITH NO RESTRICTIONS ON USAGE. THE AGREEMENT WILL ALSO
ALLOW THE CITY TO OBTAIN RAPID SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMMISSION SUCH
AS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK DURING RARE ICE EVENTS AGAIN AT NO CHARGE.
WHEREAS, it is of vital importance to the State of Georgia to protect
and develop its forest land resources; and,
WHEREAS, such protection and development requires the suppression of
uncontrolled fires, both within and without corporate limits; and,
WHEREAS, the COMMISSION is charged by State law with providing a means
of forest fire defense in all forest and rural areas; and,
WHEREAS, the COPERATOR is desirous of aiding the COMMISSION and itself
in a coordinated fire program.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
That the Mayor and Fire Chief are hereby authorized to sign the Rural
Fire Defense Cooperative Lease Agreement and MOA as requested by the Georgia
Forestry Commission.
__________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _______ day of ________________ 2016, and adopted at said meeting by
the affirmative vote of ______ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen Voting _______.
Councilor Baker Voting _______.
Councilor Barnes Voting _______.
Councilor Buck Voting _______.
Councilor Davis Voting _______.
Councilor Henderson Voting _______.
Councilor Huff Voting _______.
Councilor Thomas Voting _______.
Councilor Turner Pugh Voting _______.
Councilor Woodson Voting _______.
_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
.
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