Commissioners Want Full-Time EMS, 911 Directors

Two Overton County Commissioners would like the county to find a full-time EMS director.

Commissioner Gregg Nivens said the county needs to have a competitive offer and has to expand the search wider than the last time they advertised the job. Nivens said the county would then be able to find qualified candidates if no one in the department wants to apply.

“We need to full-time that, we need a full-time 911 director,” Nivens said. “I know some counties don’t do that. The majority of them do and we’ve always had full-time. There’s a lot of responsibilities that goes on on both those positions.”

Nivens said EMA director Chris Masiongale would do a good job with the position but it has to be full-time. Commissioner Donna Savage said the county is growing and it needs the personnel in place to protect residents.

Nivens said he spoke with an attorney from CTAS who recommended the county keep the EMS and 911 directors as two separate positions.

“I think we need forty hours a week, at least, out of those positions,” Nivens said.

Savage motioned to suspend the rules at the end of Monday’s meeting so the commission could discuss the situation. Savage said she has had a lot of constituents from her district and other districts contact her about the position.

“They feel like, that we need a full-time EMT director,” Savage said. “That’s who I work for.”

Commissioners took no action on the discussion.