By Gary Nelson
Crossville Chronicle
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. — Last week the Cumberland County Commission approved a resolution separating the county’s EMS director and fire chief position into two individual positions as it was before.
The resolution also set the salaries for both positions based on the results and recommendation of a compensation study that was performed earlier this year by Organizational Management Group (OMG) of Knoxville.
The splitting of the position was also recommended by Cumberland County Mayor Kenneth Carey, Jr. and the county’s emergency services committee.
Carey said the county is growing and having one person supervise both departments is going to be a bigger challenge as the county continues to grow.
“If we’re going to have one director and then a deputy, we’ll probably end up spending more than having two (directors). I’d like to have the option of going with one or two (directors) depending on the circumstances,” Carey said.
Carey also said if the positions remained together, the new person would have to have two multi-million dollar budgets ready in January, a month after they start the position.
Carey is working with County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) and they will screen resumes and applicants and assist with the interview process, but will not pick the candidates.
Jeff Dodson, who is currently serving as Cumberland County fire chief and EMS director, announced a few months ago that he would be retire at the end of the year.
The two positions were combined in October 2010 when Carey offered the position to then Fire Chief Dodson in an effort to save money and avoid having to search for and hire a new EMS director. Dodson was familiar with both operations.
Combining the two positions saved the county roughly $30,000 for the past five years. Dodson told commissioners at the emergency services committee meeting the position is “doable for one person, but it’s trying.”
Carey told the emergency services committee, “I’d like to recommend the funding for two (positions). Honestly, I don’t see anyone who’d be able and willing to do this job for what (salary) he’s (Jeff Dodson) is doing it for.”
Roy Turner, 7th District commissioner, said, “And a $70,000 to $80,000 salary would cause a big problem. I don’t think we can get anyone and that the budget committee will offer that much.”
Carey told the committee he would like to have the recommendation approved by the county commission by the November meeting so the new person could work with Dodson for the month of December.
Carey also told the committee, “I don’t have anyone specific in mind for either (position). I want what’s best for the community…I hope to have one or two to recommend. This will not be a political appointment. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t play politics. In my heart I will do what’s best for the community.”
Resolution 10-2016-1 — a resolution regarding the management and compensation of EMS director and fire chief positions was approved unanimously after a motion was made by Sonya Rimmer, 8th District commissioner. Rimmer’s motion was supported by Allen Foster, 4th District commissioner.
According to the resolution and the OMG study, the fire chief salary will be set at grade 12 on the current county pay scale with a minimum salary of $47,476 and the EMS director position will be set at a grade 13 on the current pay scale with a minimum salary of $52,223.
The resolution states, “Therefore be it resolved the commission hereby offers these recommendations to the county mayor in the process of selecting candidates for these very important positions in the service to the citizens of Cumberland County.”
Nancy Hyder, 2nd District commissioner, did not attend the meeting.
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