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Carter County approves sheriff-run pilot to place two deputies with volunteer fire departments
Summary
Commissioners approved a pilot program placing two sheriff's employees with volunteer fire departments for weekday daytime emergency coverage at a total cost of $113,692.66 funded from the sheriff's excess board reserves; quarterly status updates will be provided.
The Carter County Commission approved a pilot program to station two Sheriff's Office employees (one each at Elk Mills Stony Valley Fire Department and Roan Mountain Volunteer Fire Department) to provide weekday daytime emergency response coverage. The program was approved at a total cost of $113,692.66 and will be funded from the Sheriff's excess board reserves.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Paul Smith, and commissioners described the program as filling a coverage gap in remote areas where ambulances and volunteers can be delayed. One commissioner recounted a family member's experience where CPR was administered for an extended period while awaiting ambulance transport, underscoring the need for daytime coverage in the Roan Mountain area.
County representatives said the two assigned deputies will respond to emergencies locally but will not perform patient transports to hospitals; quarterly status updates will be provided by Carter County Emergency and Rescue to the commission.
The commission voted to approve the pilot and thanked the Sheriff's Office for arranging resources and funding from existing reserves.
