What Motivates One Milton Volunteer?

  Local resident, Jan Fowler, has enjoyed giving back to her community for many years. Before relocating from Dallas, Texas fourteen years ago, Jan worked as a freelance computer consultant, allowing her free time to work on a wide range of projects. Then, something happened that gave her volunteer spirit a whole new direction.

In April, 1990, Dallas experienced torrential downpours, flooding an impoverished area near downtown when the Trinity River levee system failed. And, this wasn’t minor flooding, we’re talking a whole neighborhood totally submerged…. picture New Orleans, albeit on a smaller scale. Answering a plea from the local Red Cross, Jan volunteered to serve meals, provide relocation assistance for the many families affected, as well as supporting emergency workers in the field. This led to her joining the Red Cross Disaster Action Team, where she served as Team Leader and Sector Coordinator for half of Dallas County for the next several years.

Jan’s experience came in handy when the 1994 Easter Tornados struck nearby, just a few short months after her family relocated to Georgia,. She spent many weeks at the Bartow County Red Cross service center assisting displaced residents. Her next volunteer outlet came about when she volunteered with ACOG (Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games) from mid‐1994 and culminating at the 1996 Games-a once‐in‐a‐lifetime experience. Years passed and Jan’s volunteering took a more limited role in her life until recently, when the City of Milton became incorporated.

Hearing of the new Milton Volunteer Pacers (MVPs), Jan decided get check it out. One of her first assignments was proctoring the physical agility testing for the new Milton Fire Department applicants.

Little did she know that she would be working as an MVP almost non‐stop since then. During that first assignment in January 2007, Jan learned that when Milton assumed possession of our three fire stations they would be completely empty. Knowing that fire stations are typically furnished with only the bare essentials, with the rest provided by the firefighters themselves, Jan suggested a drive to raise funds to help them out. Note: If you suggest something, be prepared to step up!

Jan was asked to Chair the Furnish the Firehouse Committee, which raised approximately $20,000 in cash and in‐kind donations in a few short months. Physical donations overflowed not one, not two but three storage units and enough funds were donated to purchase much needed cookware and kitchen items for each fire station. Working so closely with the Milton Public Safety Department and especially the firefighters themselves was a very rewarding experience. For her efforts, Jan was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and Honorary Firefighter badge by the City of Milton. “Miss Jan” as she’s affectionately known around the stations, can often be seen dropping off holiday treats, when “her boys” are on duty and away from their families, protecting the rest of us.Her next MVP opportunity arose as a member of the Milton Roundup Committee, organizing the Public Safety Chili Cook

‐off. Most recently, Jan was asked to serve on the Board of the newly formed Milton Public Safety Fund, a non‐profit organization to benefit both the Milton Police and Fire Departments.

So, what’s behind Jan’s passion for volunteering and especially her devotion to the Fire Department in particular? In addition to watching these fine young men and women in action during her years of service with the Red Cross, and seeing the ultimate sacrifices so many made on September 11th, Jan has a very personal reason for wanting to help out. Her younger brother has been a paramedic/firefighter for over 22 years and is now a Captain with the Richardson Fire Department in Texas. Although Jan was never called to work an emergency scene with him, she wanted to help his fellow firefighters. She continues to honor his service and dedication with her commitment and involvement with the Milton Fire Department.

Letter to the Editor

Subject: Milton Fire Department

I am not quite sure who to direct this E-mail to, so I am sending it to

everyone I can think of who has some involvement with the Milton Fire

Department.

Prior to the incorporation of Milton, I had a VERY bad and scary situation

with Fulton County 911 – over 30 minute response time and after that

incident I was very vocal about my concerns. Now, with the complete

opposite experience with Milton Fire Department, I think I need to make it

clear how impressed I am with the whole process and how my situation was

handled. Please note that I am in no way criticizing the individual rescue

workers who worked for Fulton County in the past (at the time of my prior

experience) – for all I know the individual people may be the same people-

but it was the Fulton County System I took issue with.

I would now like everyone to know what an incredibly great experience I just

had with the 911 System and The Milton Fire Department. One of my greatest

concerns over the past 4 years has been rescue service and response time.

Well, this new Milton Fire Department on Thompson Road has really

re-established my faith in the system.

On Friday, August 10th at about 4:00 pm, my upstairs carbon monoxide

detector started going off. It was a strange beeping pattern so I figured

it was a faulty sensor. I then went down to our basement to do some work

and I heard what I thought was the basement carbon monoxide detector going

off as well. At this point I decided I needed to call 911 and get some

help.

The response time was incredible. We had a house full of kids over playing

and by the time I got everyone gathered up and out of the house, we could

hear the sirens and knew the fire truck was close. When they got to our

house, I had 4 of the absolute nicest and politest firefighters greet me

(this is coming from someone who comes from a long family line of NYC

firefighters and it takes a great deal to impress me – I hold high standards

for these guys).

I really can not put into words how professional and thorough they were.

They checked out my upstairs laundry room and basement and found no readings

for carbon monoxide and assured me that their equipment was the newest and

best on the market (and kept saying thanks to us, the tax paying residents,

for that) and that the readings were correct. We realized that my hearing

the alarm in the basement was through my baby monitor from upstairs and that

it was only 1 detector going off, not 2. The men then insisted upon

checking every area of my house that carbon monoxide could possibly be

coming from. They insisted (even though it was not necessary) on going up

into my attic and checking the readings up there since I have a heating and

A/C unit up there as well. Keep in mind it was over 90 degrees outside and

I can only imagine how hot it was up in the attic. I am by nature a “worry

wart” and I was actually able to sleep that night with not 1 concern of

carbon monoxide.

The whole experience was reassuring to me that our firefighters are

professional and the best out there.

On a side note, I also want to mention that the humility of these guys is

incredible. This past Friday, August 3rd, I drove through the intersection

of Highway 9 and Windward parkway a few times. Some Milton Fire Fighters

were there soliciting donations. I naturally assumed they were soliciting

donations for their fire house (which I’m sure they need money for). I had

my checkbook with me and decided that this was a great time to make a nice

donation to the firehouse. I went to put the check into his boot and I said

“this is for the fire house on Thompson Road right?” He responded, “Oh No,

we are raising money for Muscular Dystrophy!”. I stopped and could not

believe that these guys, who I’m sure can use charitable contributions

themselves for their fire house & their needs, were out in this unbelievably

hot weather trying to raise money for another great cause -

Unbelievable!!!!!!! I commended the man on his fundraising, but I said I

really wanted THEM to have the money. He clearly felt awkward about

accepting money for the firehouse when that is not what they were out there

to do. I finally told him that if he did not take the money for the

firehouse, then I was not leaving it. I support Muscular Dystrophy, but

that was not what I wanted to do that day. Finally he told me the name on

the checking account for the firehouse and I wrote my check out to them

directly.

These guys are great and their hearts are in the right place. I really want

them to get the positive feedback they deserve.

Thanks,

Tara Chambers

The Hermitage Subdivision

830 Barberry Drive

Alpharetta, GA 30004

More Fire & Police Questions from Readers

Accessmilton visitor:The following are questions we have received over the course of the past month. We have taken the time to email the City of Milton Staff. Hopefully, they will address these and future questions as time allows.

- Anderson Lee; Accessmilton.com

1. Why does Milton need it’s own police department if all of the specialized functions have to be subcontracted to other departments? For example, SWAT callouts, traffic investigators, and property / evidence control.

2. Why offer Veteran North Fulton Officers & Firemen a defined benefits pension if there are no benefits on the back end? Why not offer a progressive 401K? For example, 2008; 2%, 2009, 2%, 2010 2%?

3. How do you plan on handling calls for service once your three or four beat officers are tied up with other calls? Do you have a mutual aid agreement? If so, what police actions does it cover and how much in our tax dollars does it costs?

4. With such limited personnel, what are you going to do if someone gets sick, has a family emergency, or gets hurt on the job or a litany of other reasons for not being able to work?

5. Who supervises the shift if the supervisor has to be off?

6. Who decided the city needed a director of public safety when the only othe agencies in the Metro area that have public safety directors are large agencies (such as Cobb & Dekalb Counties?)

7. If the public safety director position is deemed to be so important, why was it not opened up to a selection process? If this position is so important, why was somebody with only nine years of experience in limited police knowledge and no knowledge of fire department protocol selected?

8. Why are public safety workers not protected by the civil service?

9. Why does the city say it wanted to recruite veteran officers bu the benefits package offered does not make it financially possible for them to come and work for the City of Milton?

10. Are we so desperate for employees that we call people who have not submitted applications to come and take the physical agility test and why is the city of Milton entertaining hiring officers who have been recently fired or asked to resign?

11. Why are the majority of non elected Milton officials ex city of Alpharetta officials?

12. Why are you hiring an assistant public safety director who, as a fireman, has not fought a fire?

13. What qualifications were needed to be considered for the position of Public Safety Director?

14. What was the selection process for the Public Safety Director?

15. What plans do the Milton Police have for enforcing our current speed limits?

16. How many officers will our city have employed on a full time basis?

Update on Fire & Police Equipment Drive

Hello everyone,

Wow!   It has been a busy and productive day!    First, Stacey Inglis, Milton’s Finance Manager, informed me that we’ve received our first cash donation of $500 from one of our own MVP’s and fellow Committee Member, Carl Krauth and his wife.   Thanks so much to the Krauth’s for their generous gift, which will go a long way in purchasing much needed items for the firehouses.  

Next, the Crooked Creek resident that donated the 37″ TV last week, forwarded the Press Release and Wish List to their Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, who sent it out to all their residents.   This generated an immediate donation of a stationary bike and treadmill, but they are also working on a neighborhood drop-off location and extra hands and trucks for D-Day.   I’m sure with this kind of support, there is more to come from Crooked Creek!

Today, I met with Melissa Lagoo, Branch Manager of SunTrust Bank at Birmingham Crossroads, who recently joined our committee.   We brainstormed for about an hour and came up with a multitude of ways in which she wants to help:

• They will post the Press Release & Wish List in the branch and the tellers will mention it to their customers.   They are going to encourage Cash donations in the form of Visa Gift Cards, which customers can purchase at the branch and they will hold for us to pick up.   These can then be used by the City to purchase items that remain on the list after April 27 when in-kind donations are ended.
• Melissa is going to spread the word during her business development meetings with local residents and business owners to solicit their support.  
• She is working with the SunTrust Marketing Department to determine what type of in-kind donation they may be able to make.    One thought was for  office supplies, desk accessories, etc.
• As mentioned in an earlier update, Melissa is going to discuss the possibility of storage space with their leasing agent, but in the meantime has a small storeroom in her branch that can be used as a drop-off/holding area for small items donated by their customers.   

I feel very strongly that we should express our personal thanks to our Corporate Donors, so please let me know when you receive something and I will put it in the update.   These businesses deserve our recognition and patronage for their involvement.   So, the next time you’re near Birmingham Crossroads, please stop in to visit the brand new SunTrust Bank and let them know that we appreciate their community mindedness and support.   SunTrust Visa Gift Cards are available all year and make great gifts that “fit” everyone, so keep them in mind when thinking of wedding, birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Graduation gifts!   They also have some Grand Opening Special Rates on CD’s which are only available at their branch, so check it out.

Finally, some very dear friends of mine informed me this afternoon that they want to make quite a sizeable contribution of NEW items as follows:

• 2  Microwave Ovens (this will give us 3 total, so Hickory Flat will also be getting one!)
• At least one Television (not sure of the size yet)
• 3 Paper Shredders (one for each station)
• Small Table Lamps for the bunk areas and captain’s rooms
• Exercise Equipment including bench and free weights
• 2 Sets of Dishes (service of 8 each)

And, they may have more items once they check their inventory against our Wish List!!!!   Needless to say, I was touched and overwhelmed by their generosity.   I will let you know what other items they will be adding.

Attached is an updated Wish List with today’s donations, including a place for Cash received at City Hall.     Stacey will send me periodic updates as the Cash Fund grows, so if you receive Cash Contributions, please let me know and then forward them on to City Hall, along with the Cash Donation Checklist, as previously discussed.   I will use Stacey’s figures as the “offical” count so we don’t get confused with duplicate entries.

Also, since we have received a variety of Exercise Equipment, I have made a separate list at the end of Page 2 to note the different types.   As this is an important item for all 3 stations, I will coordinate with the City to determine when we have enough to consider this FILLED and they can determine where to place which equipment so that each station has something.

Whew, that was longer than I expected but as I mentioned at the outset, it was a busy day!   Keep me posted on your progress!

Many thanks,

Jan

 

      

Volunteers Seeking Public Safety Donations

Funds will help furnish, improve stations, provide fire, police equipment

Like most firefighters these days, members of the City of Milton Fire Department will work 24-hour shifts when the department begins operations in mid-May. And when the 27 firefighters, nine lieutenants and three captains who will make up the force are not responding to calls, their assigned fire station will serve as their home-away-from home during their lengthy tour of duty.

That means the stations need to be outfitted with many of the same comforts we are used to in our own homes – beds, couches, chairs, kitchen utensils, entertainment equipment, lawn maintenance equipment and much more.

The City of Milton has acquired three fire stations from Fulton County, but just like buying a home, the buildings come unfurnished and unequipped. So a group of city volunteers – part of the Milton Volunteer Pacers, or MVPs – are soliciting donations to help firefighters feel at home during their down time.

“These men and women are public servants in the truest sense of the term,” said volunteer Jan Fowler, who is leading the fund-raising drive. “They work long, hard hours during which they may be called upon to put their lives on the line to keep our families and belongings safe. They deserve to have the most comfortable surroundings we can provide.

“At the same time, we realize Milton as a new city has many needs and only a limited budget,” Fowler continued. “We felt this was something the community could rally around to provide.”

Cash donations are preferred but new furnishings and equipment will also be accepted, Fowler said. In addition to furnishings and equipment, donations also will be used to fund renovations, landscaping and general repair at the stations. Long-term, donations to the public safety fund will be used for future improvements and address fire and police equipment needs.

All donations are tax deductible; the city will provide contributors with necessary forms. Checks can be made payable to the City of Milton and sent to: Public Safety Fund, Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107G, Milton, GA 30004. For information on furniture/equipment donations, e-mail Fowler at jfowler770@comcast.net. PLEASE SEE CURRENT LIST BELOW!!!

***EDITOR’S NOTE***This fund is NOT to be confused with the Milton Fire / Police Fund set up by Magnolia Media. To find out more about this fund, please see http://www.accessmilton.com/Articles/CharitableFund.php

Milton Firehouse Furnishings Needed

Day Room

Recliners – 8

TV’s – 2

VCR / DVD Player – Taken care of!

Tables – 4

Bookcases – 2

Lamps -4

Pictures – OPEN

Sofa and / or Loveseat OPEN

Additional Chairs – Open

Office

Desks – 4

Chairs – 4

File Cabinets – 4

Bulletin Boards – 4

Dry Erase Boards – OPEN

Paper Shredder – 2

Office / Desk Supplies – OPEN

Sleeping Quarters

Long Twin Beds (Comm.Grade) – 8

Lockers – OPEN

Side Tables / Night Stands – 8

Alarm Clocks – 8

Lamps – 8

Small TV – OPEN

Cleaning Equipment / Supplies

Mops – OPEN

Brooms – OPEN

Mop Buckets – OPEN

Cleaning Rags – OPEN

Yard Equipment

Mower – 2

Weedeater – 2

Blower – 2

Garden Hoses – 4

Kitchen / Dining

Refrigerator (35″ wide max) – 2

Stove – OPEN

Washer / Dryer (elec) – 2

Large Ice Machine – 2

Microwave (23″ wide) – 2

Dining Table & Chairs – 2

Dishes – 4

Glasses (plastic) – 2

Toaster and/or Toaster Oven – 2

Flatware – 2

Iron Skillets (12″ & Larger) – 4

Pots & Pans (Heavy Duty) -2

Bakeware (cookie sheets / etc) – 2

Corning Set – 2

Cooking Utensil Set – 2

Prep Set (Measures / bowls) – 2

Kitchen Towels / Potholders – 4

Can Opener – 2

Coffee Maker (Comm. Grade) – 2

Kitchen Knive Block set – 2

Cutting Boards – 2

Dishdrainer – 2

Collander – 2

Crockpot – 2

Tea Pitchers – (Plastic) 4

Large Trash Can – 2

Small TV – 2

Miscellaneous

Outdoor Gas Grill – OPEN

Exercise Equipment – OPEN

Toolbox & Tools – OPEN

Outdoor Furniture – OPEN

Ping Pong Table – OPEN

Waste Baskets – OPEN

Wall Clocks – OPEN

And anything else fellow Miltonians can offer! Thank you!!!

Citizens With Questions; Part 1.

Earlier this month, Accessmilton.com released the story regarding the creation of the Milton Fire / Police Charitable Fund. Initially, we had planned on sitting down with Public Safety Director Chris Lagerbloom to conduct an interview in regards to questions we might recieve due to this piece. However, due to overwhelming response, we have decided to release various citizens questions here in your very own Milton, Georgia Fire & Police Forum. Hopefully, Mr. Lagerbloom will be able to address these questions as time allows.

 1. “How is the City of Milton going to handle the current unsolved crimes that Fulton County now has in the City of Milton?”

 2. “We have noticed and increase in the amount of gang activity in the Morris Road / Deerfield Parkway area in which I live. What does the Police department plan on doing about this growing problem?”

3. “There is a North Fulton Officer that patrols my neighborhood on a regular basis and my family would love to see him make the switch to Milton. However, we have heard that none of the North Fulton Officers are applying? Why? Aren’t the benefits packages the same?”

Who do you want to see work for the Milton Fire & Police?

Share your thoughts today in our Accessmilton.com Forums!

Welcome!

Hello! Welcome to the Milton, Georgia Fire and Police Forum. Here, citizens and public servants alike will be able to comment, question, and discuss issues regarding our wonderful Fire and Police Departments. Enjoy!