Bailey mayor confronts Nash board over EMS

NASHVILLE — Emergency medical services presented a hot-button agenda item for the Nash County Board of Commissioners on Monday, starting with a scathing review of reporting about the system by Bailey Mayor Owen Strickland II.

“I am again requesting a report from the county manager and/or the interim director of EMS to be delivered directly to the Bailey Board of Commissioners and myself regarding EMS service delivery in southern Nash County,” Strickland said, going on to mention a comprehensive report the Bailey Board of Commissioners requested on June 17.

“Of late, there has been no response from your leadership team about either report,” Strickland continued, adding that he has been allowed by the county to develop service data via phone calls with Nash County Communications. “From these contacts, I have created my own independent report, and my findings are quite frankly appalling … as of Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, a failure rate of 64.6% for ambulance staffing at Station 400, Mount Pleasant, is our new normal.”

Strickland also issued a strong take on the communication of service-related information to the community.

“I am afraid there is an aversion to accountability and transparency in the uppermost level of county leadership,” he said. “No agenda item that purports to fact-check public comment will ever be able to turn negative public opinion into community support when there is obfuscation of the facts.”

Lastly, the mayor asked the board to direct County Manager Stacie Shatzer to personally appear before the Bailey Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19 to deliver the requested comprehensive report, in addition to asking for a Sept. 5 email and a hard-copy deadline for a response to additional issues the system faces.

PRESTIGIOUS HONOR

Nash County resident and longtime civil servant Brent Fisher was on hand to receive the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an honor Gov. Roy Cooper awarded him on July 1.

Established in 1963, the order is reserved for individuals who have “made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.”

Over the course of a decorated professional career, Fisher — currently the Area 6 coordinator for the N.C. Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Division — served the county in a variety of capacities, rising from a part-time role in 911 telecommunications to being named assistant director of emergency management, fire and rescue services in 2014.

“Nash County certainly appreciates the job that you have done for us all these years,” board Chairman Robbie Davis said. “And I know you’ll continue to do it in your new job that you have … you questioned whether you deserved it or not. I don’t think this board has any question whatsoever that you do indeed deserve it.”

4-H REPRESENTATION, HEARINGS

Faith Christian senior Paige Strickland — a Morehead-Cain Scholarship nominee from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — appeared before board to discuss her enthusiasm for local 4-H endeavors.

An award-winning public speaker, Strickland will represent the state in November at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.

Two public hearings were conducted, with the board voting unanimously to approve an inducement agreement for Project Lego, which stands to yield 24 jobs with an average wage of $60,000 per year at its operations facility.

The same couldn’t be said for a conditional rezoning request for Phase III of the Castle Berry Subdivision, however, which was denied to prevent deviation from the county’s comprehensive land use plan.

SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWS REPORTS

In a wide-ranging presentation that focused on sound digital citizenship, Shatzer keyed on a host of items reported about Nash County government in recent weeks.

On a point-by-point basis, Shatzer discussed social media posts on pet care and the alleged euthanizing of dogs, individual retirement coverage, the scope of electronic payments, phone responses to clients and EMS marketing materials.

Also discussed was The Enterprise’s reporting of budget ordinance adjustments on June 17. Shatzer clarified that the 5% increase described in the story is a “cost-of-living adjustment to all Nash County employees” rather than altered salary structure for 12 positions by the same percentage.

Results from a salary study for public safety were also implemented, totaling $3.4 million.

Shatzer also disputed a description of the EMS situation as dire, citing an average response time of 10.25 minutes per call in the southern portion of the county from June 1 to July 31.

As of this writing, eight full-time EMS offers have been made, with seven accepted, in addition to one accepted part-time offer.

Ambulance inventory was discussed, with Shatzer noting two out-of-service vehicles that are in the process of being replaced — a move that will bring the fleet to 20 units.

Of the county’s nine quick-response vehicles, two are out of service and another two have high mileage; three more units are being pursued to bolster the squadron.

Lastly, Shatzer addressed a local blogger’s Aug. 1 assertion that she warned any EMS employee who talked to the media would be “terminated.”

“The fact? I have never told any employee, EMS or otherwise, that they would be terminated if they talked to the media,” Shatzer remarked. “I am not scared.”

Testimonials from Nash County EMS employees followed, highlighting the department’s virtues — professional growth, teamwork and management support chief among them.

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