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Sevier County emergency services committee reviews staffing and budget requests, including new EMS crew and courthouse security
Summary
The Emergency Services Committee on May 8 reviewed staffing and budget requests across multiple departments — Fire/Rescue, EMA, EMS, Juvenile Detention and E-911 — including funding for a six-person EMS crew and a requested appropriation to secure the new courts building.
The Sevier County Emergency Services Committee on May 8 reviewed staffing and budget requests from several departments, including a proposal to fund a new Emergency Medical Services crew, added morgue funding, staffing for a Wears Valley fire station and a request to fund security for the new courts building. Commissioner Bryan Delius called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.; the meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Chief David Puckett, head of the Department of Fire Prevention and Response (Sevier County Fire/Rescue), reported the department is conducting interviews to staff the Wears Valley station and is working on designs for that station. Chief Puckett said the department is monitoring federal grant opportunities and described a related budget request submitted to the committee.
Chief Dustin Sutton representing the Sevier County Rescue Squad said the squad completed nine training events in April. Sutton described the training activity as part of routine readiness; no new staffing request for the squad was reported during his update.
Director Joe Ayers of Emergency Management said EMA held three training events in April and reported the Medical Examiner’s Office has a recent hire. Ayers said the department’s budget request includes an increase for the morgue; the committee received the explanation but no dollar figures were provided in the report.
Director Rick Valentine of Emergency Medical Services told the committee the EMS budget increase is intended to fund one new crew that would consist of six new employees. Valentine characterized the addition as a staffing expansion to meet service demands; specific start dates and funding sources were not specified at the meeting.
Director Joe Brown of Juvenile Detention said his department’s requested increase is for training. Director Andrew Whaley of Central Communications (E-911) said his increase would fund one new employee to balance day and night shifts and pay for software updates.
Sheriff Michael Hodges presented the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office update. Attending for the office’s Disciplinary Review Report were Jail Administrator Steve Layman, Major Rhett Rutledge, Sargent Dustin Floyd and Sargent Trevor Tarwater. Sheriff Hodges explained an increase in the sheriff’s budget request intended to secure the new courts building; committee materials or vocal discussion did not specify a dollar amount for that security appropriation.
During general discussion, Commissioner Tommy Watts raised a concern about a proposed development on Red Bank Road and asked how the project could affect emergency-services planning and response. The committee did not take formal action on that development at this meeting.
Commissioner Bryan Ogle moved to adjourn; Commissioner Tommy Watts seconded the motion. The committee adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
What happens next: the committee received department budget requests and explanations; any formal appropriation, staffing hire dates or contract approvals were not decided at this meeting and will require subsequent budget review or administrative action.
