The Gordon County Board of Commissioners has approved a mutual aid agreement that will benefit both the county and Gordon Hospital.

The agreement focuses on joint training and provides for assistance in emergency situations where the county’s emergency workers and the hospital employees might need to assist one another.

“If we should have a disaster, or even a major wreck on the interstate, this agreement is in place,” said county attorney, Suzanne Hutchinson.

The aid agreement merely formalizes a program that has been in place for several years, Hut-chinson said.

The key to the agreement is the joint training efforts. When the fire or emergency medical ser-vices departments undergo training, Hutchinson says the hospital’s emergency medical technicians can participate in the same training.

In addition to training programs, the agreement allows the agencies to seek assistance from one another. Under the agreement’s limitation of services, after respondents arrive at the scene of an emergency, the officer in charge may request aid from another agency if needed.

“If the hospital needed us, we would be there,” said Gordon County Fire Chief, David Hawkins.

The agreement also protects one agency from getting stuck with a large bill after receiving aid.

“If they called us, or vice versa; the hospital would not be required to pay our overtime,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins says the fire department has similar agreements with neighboring Whitfield and Murray Counties.

“These agreements are in place so we can help each other. We can’t do it alone,” he said.

The agreement also requires that each agency maintain a minimum of $300,000 in comprehensive liability insurance and $100,000 in automobile liability coverage.

Also during the Nov. 3 meeting, commissioners:

- Recognized county employees who were celebrating November county employment anniversaries.

- Approved the donation of a 1999 Dodge Ram van to the Boys and Girls Club of Gordon County. The van has 92,604 miles on it. The Boys and Girls Club will take over maintenance and insurance of the vehicle.

- Approved the new adult entertainment ordinance.

- Commissioner Judy Bailey recognized and thanked the county high schools for their donations of canned goods, which will be donated to the Voluntary Action Center.

- County Administrator, Randy Dowling provided an update on the Court House renovations. Dowling expects the roof renovation project to be complete later this month.