Commissioner details case for a fire territory and proposes county EMS after task force review

In an extended statement Vice President Jason Sharp described past efforts to combine local fire and EMS services, explained why a countywide fire district was previously inadvisable, and urged consideration of a fire territory as a more sustainable model. "What makes a territory different is it is more of a marriage than a merger," Sharp said, adding that a territory would allow districts to pool resources while retaining local participation.

Sharp described the EMS Task Force conclusion that existing fire departments could not absorb a countywide EMS service without jeopardy to current services; the task force recommended a standalone county EMS that would have dedicated funding and billing operations. He cited 3,546 EMS calls in 2024 and said typical insurer payments for ambulance service are about $425–$450, leaving patients with potential remaining balances of $1,000–$2,500. Sharp also addressed persistent rumors about his motives: "I will not be creating myself a job, nor have any interest in being a chief officer or an employee of any capacity for any Floyd County Fire or EMS organization," he said.

Sharp said two more public hearings on a fire territory will be held before a final vote. Commissioners indicated they will continue gathering fiscal, geographic and staffing data and that several follow-up sessions will be scheduled.