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Carter County approves pilot program to place two daytime firefighters at volunteer stations
Summary
The Carter County Commission approved a 12-month pilot to fund two full-time daytime firefighters—one at Elk Mills/Poga VFD and one at Roan Mountain VFD—at a total county cost of $113,694.28, paid from the Sheriff’s Excess Board Bill Reserves. The program requires quarterly status updates.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously March 16 to fund a 12-month pilot program placing one full-time professional firefighter at each of two volunteer fire stations to improve weekday daytime emergency coverage.
The motion, offered by Commissioner Julie Guinn and seconded by Commissioner Jason Clawson, authorizes Carter County Emergency & Rescue Squad to hire two firefighters—one assigned to Elk Mills/Poga Volunteer Fire Department and one to Roan Mountain Volunteer Fire Department—at a total annual county cost of $113,694.28, with funding drawn from the Sheriff’s Excess Board Bill Reserves. Commissioners recorded a 21-0 electronic vote to approve the program.
The pilot is designed to cover weekday hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) to reduce daytime response gaps that volunteer departments report when members are at outside employment. The county packet describes duties including fire suppression response, motor-vehicle-accident extrication and medical responses as dispatched, plus station readiness and operational support during non-response hours.
Carter County Emergency & Rescue Squad’s budget estimate, presented to the commission, lists salary and benefit detail: salary at $16.20 per hour per firefighter, plus medical, vision, dental, life insurance, holiday pay, 401(k) contributions and payroll taxes. The packet gives a total annual program cost of $113,694.28 and states the full cost will be borne by Carter County.
Commissioners required quarterly status reports to the board. The pilot packet lists evaluation metrics including pre/post response-time comparisons, call volume, mutual-aid usage, fire-loss data and stakeholder feedback from fire chiefs and community members. The commission’s motion includes a directive that Carter County Emergency & Rescue Squad provide quarterly status updates to the commission.
The commission’s vote followed discussion and a formal motion at the Budget Committee portion of the meeting. No member recorded a dissenting vote.
