News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Fentress County is considering adjustments to its Ambulance Services Department after Director Tony Maxfield resigned.
Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the department is in good hands with Ambulance Service Assistant Director Steve Bradfield serving as interim director. He said the county is looking at ways to divide some of the directorial responsibilities to relieve some of the pressure of the position.
“Hopefully in the near future, we can have a replacement in up there to take over as the full-time director and assistant director,” Jonson said. “We’re going to try to rescope it some way maybe to take some of the workload off of our director or assistant director.”
Johnson said the county will accept applications for the next week and a half before beginning the interview process. He said transitioning to an EMS Director is one option that has been discussed as a possible fix.
“It might make things a little bit more, not simpler because we know Ambulance Service is not a simple thing, and we’re just trying to find a solution where we can make things a little bit better for the citizens of Fentress County,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the an EMS Director and Assistant EMS Director could split up duties allowing the assistant to be in charge of personnel operations like scheduling. He said that assistant would free up the director to focus on daily operations and the many checks and balances that require attention in a growing department.
“We will be taking applications for what we’re going to probably change part of the position to will be to an Emergency Services Director,” Johnson said. “That will consist probably of helping with the EMS and also with the Fire Department and also with the EMA.”
He said many Ambulance Service and EMS Departments have doubled or tripled budgets in recent years. He said that growth puts more pressure on a director.
Johnson said Maxfield resigned to accept a position elsewhere but did not offer further comment on his departure.
