Trousdale County first responders discuss staffing gaps, grant-funded gear and FEMA-approved hazard plan

Trousdale County first responders reported continuing staffing and equipment challenges and described several grant-funded purchases Tuesday evening while officials said the county's updated hazard mitigation plan has received FEMA approval.

At the Trousdale County First Responders meeting, law enforcement officials said the department is short-staffed, rescue volunteers described new swiftwater training and grant purchases, EMS said it remains fully staffed, and a state Homeland Security special agent introduced his role as a liaison with local agencies.

The staffing shortage in the sheriff's office was the meeting's most immediate concern. "Right now, we're currently 7 officers short," a law enforcement representative said, describing recent departures and difficulty finding qualified applicants. The office reported 1,593 complaint cards on the dispatch log over the past 30 days, 75 adult arrests and five juvenile arrests in the past month, and detailed recent inmate and warrant-processing figures.

The sheriff's office also said it is ordering new vehicles, has upgraded to TASER 10 models and is preparing to issue 25 Axon body cameras after county commission authorization. The office reported a drone purchase funded primarily from the county's offender fund; officials said about $9,000 was in the fund and they requested $8,000 from it plus $1,500 from a regular equipment line to buy the drone. The office asked the county to prioritize a proposed radio tower site at Grama Hill to improve portable radio coverage on the west side of the county.

Matt Beatty of EMS said his service is "still full staffed, maintaining our staffing so far," that recent ambulance maintenance has returned units to service and that EMS has held in-house trainings with St. Thomas Ascension. He said there are "no budget concerns at this time, and we don't have any pending grants either." He offered to answer questions from the group.

Rescue volunteers reported an expansion of their swiftwater capability and purchases funded by a grant. The rescue representative said several team members completed swiftwater training and that the squad had acquired new personal flotation devices and a fully stocked swiftwater trailer. The speaker said purchases would "complete that part of the $52,100 on that grant" and that the squad "still have[s] the $10,000 for the Enbridge grant" intended for radio upgrades and other equipment.

The rescue group said turnout gear has been received and most members are outfitted with new gear, and that the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS) granted full membership after the swiftwater certification; the squad expects to pay dues (roughly $100 plus $30 per person) out of this year's budget despite the line item not being updated.

Lane Harden, introduced as a special agent with the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security assigned to the Hartsville area, described the office's focus. "A lot of people think illegal aliens and drugs, and that is actually the opposite of what we do," Harden said, explaining the state office concentrates on threats of mass violence and coordinates with schools, EMS and law enforcement as a state liaison.

Officials also discussed a large planned demolition at a TVA cooling tower site and encouraged the public to avoid the area during implosion preparations; the sheriff's office said it plans to designate and manage a public viewing area when a date is announced.

On broader preparedness, county staff said the updated Trousdale County hazard mitigation plan has been approved by FEMA. The plan, updated every five years, ranks local hazards and makes the county eligible to apply for federal mitigation funding. County staff said weather-related hazards'including tornadoes, flooding, extreme heat and winter storms'are primary concerns. The report cited localized flooding along Rocky Creek Loop and areas downstream toward Rankin Road and Bronnet Road, and county staff said increased housing and runoff on Bass Road may be contributing to flooding.

Staff cautioned that mitigation funding is not guaranteed: standard grants can take roughly two years to secure and often require a state-declared disaster or leftover funds from other declared events. "The plan has to be approved by the governing body," a county emergency official said, and FEMA approval makes the county eligible to apply for federal monies when they are available.

Other items discussed included building repairs at rescue facilities (air conditioning replaced; mold and rotted wall sections noted and queued for repairs), frequent out-of-state medical transports by the sheriff's office, and continued work on an Eagle Eye surveillance camera system and additional block-safety cameras pending TDOT permitting.

The meeting opened with routine approvals of last month's minutes and the meeting agenda and adjourned with plans to meet at the same time and place next month.