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Franklin‑Simpson leaders approve interim two‑person 24/7 fire rotation, debate full staffing needs
Summary
After debate about OSHA staffing standards and funding, the Franklin City Commission and Simpson County Fiscal Court approved a plan to implement a two‑person 24‑hour rotation with two additional on‑call stipended responders and to hire three new firefighters, with city and county sharing costs; some members said four on‑site personnel are needed.
Judge Executive (transcript lists as Mason Bames) and Mayor Larry Dixon presided over a joint session of the Franklin City Commission and Simpson County Fiscal Court on Oct. 17, 2023, where elected leaders voted to put an interim, around‑the‑clock staffing plan in place for Franklin‑Simpson Fire Rescue.
Commissioner Dale McCreary moved and Commissioner Wendell Stewart seconded a motion to staff the station on a 24‑hour on/48‑hour off rotation with two firefighters on duty at the station and two additional responders on stipend to be available to respond. The motion, which directs hiring three additional firefighters and splits costs equally between the city and county, is recorded in the transcript as passing (vote recorded as 'Yes‑All').
The measure followed a presentation from Fire Chief Leslie Goodrum, who said five full‑time personnel would be optimal to ensure immediate response and safety. Chief Goodrum told officials the target roll‑out time for personnel on scene is 90 seconds to two minutes when staff are in the station; when volunteers must respond from off‑site, roll‑out can take ten minutes or longer.
Magistrate Marty Chandler voted 'no' on a later recorded motion and explained his opposition as grounded in public‑safety concerns and OSHA staffing expectations. “I would like to see the matter resolved with the staffing that is required by OSHA,” Chandler said in the meeting. The transcript also records other motions and votes: one roll call lists yes votes for Magistrates Scott Poston, Myron Thurman, Jeffrey Burr and the transcript name 'Barnes' (the transcript also lists 'Mason Bames' elsewhere, see note). Chandler said several officials, including Judge Executive and others, share the goal of reaching four or five full‑time firefighters but emphasized funding must be arranged.
City Manager Kenton Powell and other officials said some minor building modifications will be needed to implement round‑the‑clock staffing and that the cost plan will require agreement on how the city and county allocate funds. The transcript records subsequent motions (by Magistrate Chandler seconded by Magistrate Thurman; and by Commissioner Jamie Powell seconded by Commissioner Herbert Williams) noted as passing in the meeting record, and the session adjourned at 1:39 PM.
The motions recorded in the transcript create an interim staffing commitment but do not by themselves establish the final, fully staffed model some members advocated. The court and commission noted that elected officials and the public have a role in funding decisions through the budget process and elections.
Note on transcript inconsistencies: the transcript contains inconsistent spellings for the Judge Executive’s surname (appearing as 'Mason Bames' in opening attendance and later as 'Barnes' in vote lists). The article uses the role title 'Judge Executive' where necessary to avoid misidentification. Vote details beyond the names explicitly listed in the transcript were not specified in full; the article reports votes and quotes exactly as recorded.
