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Faulkner County panel backs sending emergency-squad reorganization to full court
Summary
Committee members recommended sending proposed measure 25-35—intended to move operational control of the Faulkner County Emergency Squad from the Sheriff's Office to the Office of Emergency Management—to the full quorum court after staff described the historical reasons for the change and said no additional county funding was sought.
The Faulkner County Courts of Public Safety committee voted to send proposed measure 25-35 to the full quorum court after staff outlined a plan to shift operational control of the Faulkner County Emergency Squad from the Sheriff's Office to the county's Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Administrator Randy Higgins told the committee the proposed measure references an older ordinance, 77-23, and that changes in technology and agency roles since 1977 have made a reassignment appropriate. "Section 2 of this ordinance really covers this as the Faulkner County Emergency Squad shall adhere to the Faulkner County policies and procedures, just like every other department in the county has to do," Higgins said, adding that the new language removes ambiguity left by the original ordinance.
Higgins said the move is intended to refocus the squad on search-and-rescue and on supporting fire departments rather than law-enforcement duties, which the sheriff's reserve program now covers. He cited consultations with Director Keith Hillman of OEM, Sheriff Bridal and Chief Deputy Wooley, and a meeting that included Judge Dodson and the squad board in reaching the recommendation.
One committee member asked about the wording in Section 3, which says OEM "may" serve as the squad's representative before the court rather than "shall." Higgins said the change was made at the squad's request to allow the squad occasional direct access to the court under OEM guidance so they can maintain some self-ownership while OEM provides oversight.
Higgins told the committee that there is no immediate fiscal impact: "There will not be any fiscal request, at all," he said, and that the squad appears adequately funded. He also said OEM would help the squad with budgeting, purchasing and development of operational plans and that those plans will be brought back to the committee after OEM and squad leadership finalize them.
After discussion and expressions of support from committee members, a motion to send the measure to the full quorum court carried on verbal ayes. The transcript records affirmative responses but does not include a named roll call or a numeric tally of votes.
The committee did not adopt the ordinance; it elected only to forward the proposed measure to the full quorum court for consideration. The committee asked staff to return with implementation, recruitment and planning details in a future meeting.
