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Wythe County board hears EMS staffing updates and approves CAD contract negotiation; accepts generator grant
Summary
The Wythe County Board of Supervisors heard a personnel introduction and several emergency-services items June 30, including the introduction of a new EMS lieutenant, authorization to negotiate a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) contract, and acceptance of a grant to add a generator at the West EMS station in Rural Retreat.
The Wythe County Board of Supervisors on June 30 introduced a newly hired EMS lieutenant and authorized staff to negotiate a contract to upgrade the county’s computer-aided dispatch system while accepting a grant to add a whole-building generator to the West EMS station in Rural Retreat.
The new lieutenant, Joseph Culley, told the board he has 27 years in emergency medical services and serves as a Virginia EMS education coordinator. He said he teaches an initial EMT certification class that finishes this week in Tazewell and also teaches continuing education courses. Culley said he previously worked in Tazewell County and lives near the Bland–Tazewell line.
“The last two years I’ve been in Washington, D.C., meeting with senators, representatives in the area,” Culley said, describing his statewide advocacy work; that comment was part of his introduction and public remarks to the board.
Deputy County Administrator Jenkins presented action items for emergency communications. Jenkins said staff reviewed proposals from multiple vendors and that the Emergency Communications Center board recommended “you authorize staff to negotiate and enter into a contract with Southern Software, to provide the CAD update.” Jenkins said the county is awaiting grant funding to pay a significant portion of the project and that, if grants are not awarded, the county would need to appropriate reserve funds. The motion to authorize negotiations was moved by Mr. Terry, seconded by Mr. Morgan, and approved by roll call.
Jenkins also asked the board to accept a grant described in the staff packet as the BDM shelter grant to pay 70% of the cost of installing a “whole home generator” at the county’s West EMS station in Rural Retreat. Jenkins said the grant amount is “a little over $5,000” in the staff presentation; the board moved to accept the grant and approved the request.
County staff additionally said they expect to hear within 24 to 48 hours about state guidelines for winter-storm recovery funds and whether the county was awarded grant funding for a new ambulance; staff said at least one of those items could come back to the board at the second July meeting.
The county is also recruiting for an interim 911 director and has extended the application review period for a parks and recreation director. Jenkins said final vendor codification of recent ordinance updates will be returned for board review and that a public hearing on codification could be set in August or September.
The board’s discussion included recognition of recent hiring successes in EMS. Board members said the county has been able to attract multiple qualified applicants for openings.
The county did not take formal action on hiring (that introduction was informational). The formal actions recorded were authorization for staff to negotiate the CAD contract and acceptance of the generator grant.
