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Tommy Bruton said that he wanted to express his opinion on shutting down the Rescue Squad. He just retired with 25 years of service with the Fire Department. He said that he knows what it takes to make this work-teamwork. He made reference to a conversation he had with a Fire Chief and a Fire Captain from somewhere e|oe, who did not know where he was gs from, but pulled out an article about Orange County in the Raleigh News and Observer entitled, "Squad Stands Down, EMS Gets Booted." He said that this is a black eye to Orange County. He said that he wants everyone to understand that this takes teamwork. He said that if the rescue unit does not go back to xO[k, everyone will wish th�y had. He thinks that the way it was handled to start with was an automatic shutdown. He asked the County Commissioners to please fix this and talk to the people of Orange County. Chair Jacobs said that there have been meetings with the members of the Rescue Squad and there is every intention to come to an amicable and positive conclusion to the differences that led to whatever happened in June. He hopes to get a report back to the Board of conversations oho[�|y. of County Commissioners about the progress o these o�O . -'U Reid said that in the designing of the new library, the Heritage Center was left off. He knows" that this is low on the totem pole, but it is an essential part of the heritage. He asked the County Commissioners to not forget about it. Chair Jacobs said that in October when the Board talks about the Capital Investment P|aO, this will be the time that it will talk about projects like this. He thinks that this project will be part of that discussion. Linda Bonebrake said that she recently moved to Hillsborough from Virginia. While in Virginia, she served as a volunteer EMT on the local and state level. She vvgethrilled to see that there-xvas a volunteer rescue squad. She was in the process of joining when she found out that it had been shut down. She was very disappointed. From what she understands, the local EMS system mn hmsthree fuU-tiDle ambulances and one that comes on at night. These ambulances cover the vvho|e {}oUntyand this ioalot of territory. She knovxothe expense of the equipment paid services and there have been some very unfortunate incidences. It seems to hG ^~-iftheFe is a rescue squad that has equipment and people willing to serve, that whatever~ that goUeo there have been could be resolved and the squad could be put back in service as soon as possible. m Brian Matthews is the Chief of the Orange County Rescue Squad. On June 27th, he received a call from Colonel Montes de Oca saying that the Orange Co unty Rescue Squad wa e to stand down. At that time, he was not given any reason. On July 1st, he had a meeting with Chair Jacobs and Commissioner Foushee and at that 0eeUO0, he was told that it was a temporary safety stand down for safety remeona, and that an additional meeting was to be set Up between-inn'and Colonel KAoOtas 'e (�o8. xVhiohhappeDedtmodays |mter. At this [neet|ng. he was told ' � Lt. Joseph would be reviewing this incidence to ensure the NFPA compliance. All documents- - Lt. of Orange County Rescue Squad have been provided. He has requested requested times for status assessments and he has not been given any response to r�qu� multiple his requests. The- ' has been standing down for 67 days. He wrote a letter to Colonel Montes A � � Oca just squad r the squad was stood down and told him that the rescue squad was de Since rescue squad has been out of in the memo to ataf?, ready lo respond. service, (��| ne| Montes de Oca stated that, if any of the members should respond and get on scene, th~~|axvenforoem0entohou\dbeo8Uedgndhavethe[nren0oved. All DneOnberohave complied with this standard. Orange County Rescue Squad has provided all information and documents ~^~'requested. There has been no response. He asked if Orange County could sit by and allow requ � . the ~~~ ~~ squad' to remain. id\e, with equipment and personnel ready to go. He asked that Orange County Rescue Squad be reinstated immediately.