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Emergency management director urges shift to dedicated EMA funding and raises prospect of full-time director
Summary
Henry County emergency management staff discussed moving a mass-notification contract into EMA’s budget, possible transition to a full-time director role, a backup dispatch center at the hospital and maintenance needs at the county training facility. The EMA director noted federal/state reimbursement (EMPG) covers part of salary costs.
Emergency management staff presented priorities and staffing options to the council, including the question of whether the county’s Hyper-Reach mass-notification contract should be budgeted in the EMA account and whether the EMA director role should move from part‑time to full‑time.
Troy (Emergency Management staff) told the council the $11,377 Hyper‑Reach charge is currently placed under commissioners’ contractual services; he and others said placing the line under EMA would make the purpose and tracking clearer. Budget reviewers agreed moving the contract to EMA would improve transparency.
Troy also described operational needs: a backup dispatch location being discussed with a local hospital (generator and office space), an aging generator at the EMA site possibly needing replacement in coming years, and the Hillsborough Road training facility that requires upkeep because structures and equipment are more than 20 years old. He said some maintenance and equipment lines for that facility are not currently present in EMA’s budget.
On staffing, Troy said Huntington County and other peer counties show EMA positions are often full time; he described a plan to ask the commissioners about moving the director position to full time and adding a half‑time deputy. Budget staff noted the county currently receives EMPG reimbursement through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security that covers up to 50% (up to $30,000 total in the transcript) of EMA salary costs; that reimbursement would partially offset additional salary costs if positions were moved to full time.
Council members asked for further documentation, including job descriptions and Wagner classification data for similar counties, and asked the commissioners to weigh in because any full‑time position requires funding approval. No formal action was taken; staff said they will follow up with the commissioners and provide additional detail.
Why it matters: EMA staffing, long-term equipment and backup-site planning affect the county’s emergency preparedness and how federal/state aid offsets local costs.
