I have had the honor of working alongside many competent professionals employed in government at all levels. I have worked with one individual as a private citizen and elected official, Pete Nelms, who is our Fayette County Division Chief and EMA Director, for 20 years.
Pete orchestrated the multi-jurisdictional effort to protect all of our citizens against disasters caused by hazardous materials and natural events. Two decades ago as a private citizen, I was forced to get involved in hazmat discussions as a great deal of that activity was occurring next to my subdivision.
When the elected officials and government administrators refused to hear the concerns of citizens related to the possibility of hazmat events and the consequences, Pete Nelms not only took those concerns seriously, but he also worked tirelessly to improve safety, lessen hazmat risks and improve communication.
Funding is often in short supply to protect the public against threats most people did not even know existed in their community. Pete has worked diligently to pull together the resources of local fire departments and local industries to insure we could muster a defense against a hazmat disaster, covering an area of seven to ten square miles, affecting tens of thousands of local residents. He has also filled out thousands of pieces of paper to secure state and federal grants.
His relationships with local public safety leaders and Georgia Emergency Management Agency officials is unparalleled. Many EMA officials from other counties frequently use Pete as a mentor and he gladly offers his assistance to anyone who makes the request.
Pete brought the grants to Fayette County that initiated the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs that are dutifully run by public safety personnel in Peachtree City. The program has trained hundreds of citizens on how to respond and assist in disaster situations.
His latest effort is pulling the county’s faith-based community together to assist in local disasters with training and relief aid. The program is now spreading into neighboring Coweta County.
Pete was instrumental in our purchasing a system that immediately alerts people throughout our county of dangerous gas main breaks, derailments of trains carrying hazardous chemicals and catastrophic events at local factories endangering our citizens.
In the snow and ice event that shutdown parts of our county and left many without electricity, Pete stayed up for days with little or no sleep to insure seniors, children and the medically fragile in need of assistance throughout Fayette County had warm shelter, food and medical treatment.
Pete’s job is never easy. He never complains. He genuinely cares about our citizens.
A selfless and productive career is coming to an end as Pete Nelms retires in February. On behalf of all of us who have worked alongside Pete for the last two decades and on behalf of the 108,000 Fayette County citizens you protected without their knowing, it has truly been an honor and we thank you for your thoughtful and compassionate service to us all.
Steve Brown, commissioner
Peachtree City, Ga.
