By Jason Deal
The Blackshear Times
PIERCE COUNTY, Ga. — Legal action may be coming in relation to recent troubles at Pierce County EMS.
Commissioners held a called meeting Friday afternoon and immediately adjourned into a 55 minute closed session using the attorney-client privilege exemption in Georgia’s open meetings law. Commissioners Carl Boyette and Randy Dixon were not present.
After reconvening, County Chairman Mitch Bowen announced no action was taken, but did say the commissioners discussed “information related to pending litigation.”
Bowen and county manager Paul Christian later declined comment about the matter.
Reports indicate, however, the closed session is related to the August 22 firing of EMS and EMA director and fire coordinator Ken Justice. Justice had worked for the county for 28 years.
Justice, contacted at home Friday, confirmed he is considering all legal options available to him, but declined to say whether he has filed suit against the county or has even hired an attorney.
Christian would only say that an investigation into “numerous human resources issues” is continuing. He says the issues include billing and time card problems.
County and Okefenokee EMS officials estimate lax billing and compliance issues have reportedly cost the county at least $250,000 and perhaps as much as $800,000.
Last week, the county approved hiring Okefenokee Emergency Medical Services of Waycross to help correct what Christian called “serious problems with billing and compliance.”
Okefenokee EMS will be paid $75 per hour for the work. Commissioners deny the action is a move toward privatization of the service.
Justice also allegedly allowed employees to fill out time cards showing they were on the clock, while they were actually off and someone else worked for them.
Justice declined comment about that issue.
Justice had been suspended with pay August 8 for investigation of violation of the county’s personnel policies regarding reporting of substance/alcohol abuse and sexual harassment complaints within his department.
The investigation into those concerns reportedly led to the discovery of the billing and time card issues.
Republished with permission from the Blackshear Times