Fire science and EMT training now offered in County public high schools

CITY HALL—Three public high schools in Madison County are now offering fire science, EMT training, and other technical education pathways, according to a fire fighter and instructor who spoke about the programs to City Council on Tuesday evening. The vocational tracks are intended to accelerate entry into the workforce for local high school graduates, and are expected to create a ready pool of qualified candidates to fill staff positions across the County's emergency services, according to the instructor.

Lieutenant Brent Billings of the Berea Fire Department told Council about the vocational programs that have been initiated over the past couple of school years at Berea Community School, Madison County Southern High School, and the Ignite Academy South, all of which are in Berea. Billings is one of the fire science instructors. He said that two students from Madison Central High School currently travel to Ignite South for their fire science training, demonstrating that all high schools students in the County are eligible for these vocational pathways.

Billings introduced the Council to William Madden and Jeffrey Gilbert, who are among the fire science programs first graduates. Madden is now a volunteer fire fighter with the Berea VFD, and Gilbert is just starting as a part-time staff member of the Madison County Fire Department.

Billings and BFD Chief Charlie Russell both thanked Council and City Administrator Shawn Sandlin for their support for the program. Billings and Sandlin, who preceded Russell as fire chief before taking on the role of city administrator, created the curriculum, based on what they had learned as volunteer fire fighters at the start of their careers, Billings said.

"They're coming out with real world certificates," he said of the graduates, noting this includes Kentucky Fire Commission Apprentice I and II certifications, CPR, and some national qualifications, as well. There are the certifications required of fire fighters to obtain within their first year of employment, putting graduates of the high school program ahead of other new hires who must attend mandatory fire academy to receive their certifications. These graduates are so prepared by the fire science program, Billings said, local fire departments that hire them only need to put these new recruits through a boot camp to learn that station's standard procedures.

Community School students can participate in the fire science program beginning their freshman year, studying in the program one hour per school day, and graduating from the program in their senior year. Ignite students must be at least a junior to participate, graduating from the program in their senior year. The Ignite curriculum is offered two hours per school day.

Sandlin also mentioned during the presentation that Madison Southern now also has a program for training emergency medical technicians.

Councilmember Steve Caudill and Mayor Bruce Fraley each noted that the vocational tracks were conceived of by Caudill's late father, Michael Caudill, who was superintendent of Madison County Schools at the time of his death from cancer in 2007. Steve Caudill said he can remember as a teenager when his dad first began to mention how it would something worth doing.

Resolution

Also during the meeting, in a voice vote, Council unanimously passed Resolution 03-2026, authorizing the mayor to sign documents on behalf of the City in its role as sponsor of the Kentucky League of Cities reverse salt auction. Councilmember Steve Davis was absent from the meeting.

As has been the case for several years, the company eBridge will run the online reverse auction of winter salt supplies to Kentucky municipalities later this year. A reverse auction "shows suppliers where their price ranks among other Suppliers, so they can decrease it, if they choose," according to the KLC FAQ sheet.

Ordinances

Council also passed two ordinances at the first meeting of the month. The first, Ordinance 04-2026, was unanimously passed in a roll call vote (minus Davis) to allow a zoning change from I-2 industrial, to B-4, interstate exchange business, green-lighting Walmart's plans to build a new store on the corner of Mayde Road and the Bypass. Exit 77 of Interstate 75 is in the same block as the new Walmart will be. What will become of the current Walmart location at Exit 76 has yet to be announced.

Also in a roll call vote, Council unanimously passed a zoning change for a property at the corner of Liberty Avenue and US 25 (Mt. Vernon Road), owned by Todd Wilson and Terry Wilson. The property is currently zoned R-1, single family residential, but will now be B-2 for small business.

Department head reports

The IT department head, Daniel Brindley, was absent, so the meeting's audio-visual engineer, Tommy Horn, gave the update to Council instead. Horn said that the City is currently redeveloping its website. Migration of current information on the site is underway, and the site map is completed for both the City and the utilities department, which is also part of the website. WiFi points throughout City Hall have been refreshed, said Horn. This will make signals stronger and will also allow them to range farther.

Horn also said the City's back-up firewall failed, and so their vendor for cybersecurity is replacing it. In July there will be a new contract and audit of users for the City's office software Microsoft 365. There are new security cameras up at the Skate Park, and soon the department will complete an FBI cybersecurity audit.

Fire Chief Russell used this portion of the meeting to recognize Billings, as reported above.

City administrator's report

Sandlin told Council progress on the trailhead restrooms and concession stand is coming along, even if bad weather set construction back by two weeks. He said the facility is expected to open in the first week of June.

The City's Spring Clean-up is coming. Sandlin asked residents to please have their bulk trash out for pick-up during the days of April 20 through April 24. Caudill asked where residents should place their trash items if there is no curb. Sandlin said he will ask Waste Connections and announce the response on the City's Facebook page.

Mayor's comments

Fraley commended the IT department for how organized and efficient it is, given that it runs technology for a town the size of Berea, with only two employees. He also praised the Berea Kiwanis Club for its dedication to the community, including to our local youth, whom the Club involved in its 89th annual Easter Egg Hunt, held this Easter weekend.

Council comments

The only three Councilmembers with comments were Caudill, who discussed the vocational programs as reported above, Jerry Little, who also praised the IT department, and John Payne who also praised the vocational program and who suggested that perhaps it's time for Berea to have its own version of Richmond's Tasty Tuesdays.