Court moves Emergency Squad oversight to Office of Emergency Management, waives readings for Jan. 1 effect
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Summary
The Quorum Court passed ordinance 25-35 to transfer financial and operational oversight of the volunteer Emergency Squad from the Sheriff's Department to the county Office of Emergency Management; the court suspended readings so the change can take effect Jan. 1 and required periodic reporting from the squad.
The Faulkner County Quorum Court voted to transfer oversight of the county's volunteer Emergency Squad from the Sheriff's Department to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), approving ordinance 25-35 and waiving the usual second and third readings so the change can take effect Jan. 1.
Sponsor Justice Coates said the reorganization is intended to shift the squad's focus away from a law-enforcement orientation toward rescue, volunteer fire support and other nonpolice missions and to give the squad clearer operational direction under OEM. "If we're going to spend the money, that is set through the voter referendum, volunteer tax, it needs to be spent efficiently and effectively," Coates said, explaining the move grew out of committee review and discussions with the sheriff, the emergency squad and OEM.
The ordinance repeals and replaces Faulkner County ordinance 77-23 and places financial and operational oversight with the OEM director (referred to in the meeting as Hillman). The sponsor said the emergency squad will continue to have an open line of communication with the court and "turn in a, if not monthly, but quarterly report of their missions and the things that they're doing," so the court can monitor performance.
During debate, justices asked whether the squad's activities and dispatch records had been reviewed; Justice Coates said multiple reviews had been conducted and that the change is intended to make the squad's role more relevant and efficient. Several justices expressed support for the ordinance; the court voted to suspend the rules for immediate readings and then approved the ordinance in a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded roll-call responses and the presiding judge announced the motion carried; at one point the clerk counted "12" affirmative responses during the vote.
The sponsor said OEM, the sheriff's office and the emergency squad had discussed the change and expressed support; no formal opposition was recorded in the transcript excerpt. The court also noted the squad will retain the ability to come before the court and report on activities.
Next steps identified in the meeting: the OEM director will assume financial oversight beginning Jan. 1 and the emergency squad will submit periodic (quarterly) mission reports to the court.
