First Response Services Committee reviews ambulance replacement, flood study plans and OKs sheriff—s $400 retirement study

At a meeting of the First Response Services Committee, members heard reports on emergency vehicle needs, facility flooding and maintenance, and voted to authorize a $400 study requested by the sheriff—s office on a state hazardous-duty retirement supplement.

The committee prioritized an ambulance replacement question after Matt Beatty, speaking for first-response operations, said the oldest reserve ambulance has passed 200,000 miles and has required nearly $20,000 in recent repairs. "We've already spent almost $20,000 just keeping it in service," Beatty said, and described two options: purchasing a new ambulance or remounting an existing box onto a new chassis. He said a new ambulance from Emergency Equipment Professionals Inc. is quoted at a little over $290,000, with an auto-loader and power cot adding about $67,000, putting the total near $350,000. A remount to a Ford F-350 chassis was estimated at about $176,000. Beatty said lead times on a new vehicle would be about 12 to 15 months.

The remount quote, Beatty said, "is included. That's all included in that price." He described the reserve vehicle as not a frontline truck and said the department believes the purchase could come from the EMS fund balance and be included in the 2025-26 budget cycle.

The committee also discussed a potential FEMA hazard-mitigation grant to study chronic flooding on Rocky Creek Loop and Brummet Road, an issue that members and residents raised after flooding entered yards and carports. Committee member Linda Bruce and others said the county will first ask county staff to inspect the area and consider short-term fixes, and that FEMA—s hazard-mitigation program is not currently accepting applications because of federal-level changes; when it does reopen the awards process can take years and depends on declared disasters elsewhere in the state.

Maintenance and facility problems at the county rescue building drew extended discussion. Maintenance staff said repeated bathroom flooding and mold had recurred because runoff runs through the building—s footprint and a buried water line sits only inches below grade, complicating ditching work. Maintenance reported replacing or repairing electrical outlets the same day they were notified and said mold-resistant wall materials are being considered, but that drainage remains the primary unresolved issue. Maintenance supervisor Cliff said a backhoe would not fit the narrow area and that digging may require renting smaller equipment or coordinating with Tony Crook of the water department, who was identified as having suitable equipment.

Fire and rescue staffing and equipment updates were also reported: the rescue squad reported adding two people and bringing membership to 17 pending a drug test; the fire department reported 20 active volunteers and 33 calls in the current reporting period (Dec. 1 to March 13). The fire department plans to apply for about $11,800 in charitable grant funding routed through Enbridge/Benevity for radio upgrades, gas detectors and gated hydrant valves; officials said Enbridge allows applications year-round in its service area.

On a formal action, a committee member moved and another seconded a request from the sheriff to fund the required study to implement a state hazardous-duty supplement to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). The committee approved the motion without recorded opposition. The presenter described the state law change as increasing allowable retirement draw for qualifying law-enforcement, corrections and fire personnel and said the study would evaluate who in the county workforce would benefit; "That would pay for the study," the presenter said when asked about the $400 fee. The committee instructed the sheriff's office to conduct the study and report back.

The committee agreed to compile and summarize a previously commissioned study by Kevin Lauer about potentially combining rescue and fire services; Lauer has been promoted at the state level and may be unable to present in person, so members asked staff to prepare a summary for the committee and the full court.

The committee set its next meeting for the same time next month and indicated it may move the start time to 6 p.m. before meeting with the full court.

Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes from previous meeting: motion passed (moved by committee member; second by Chris Kreger; unanimous). - Set agenda as presented: motion passed (moved by Chris Gregor; second by Steve Whitaker; unanimous). - Authorize sheriff's department to conduct study of hazardous-duty retirement supplement (paying required $400 fee): motion passed (mover recorded as committee member; second recorded; unanimous).