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County seeks emergency coordinator
By MICHAEL SULLIVAN/Wick News Service
Wanted: Someone able to deal with "adverse weather conditions, high-speed travel, exposure to isolated areas, confinement in secured areas, and exposure to potentially hazardous, disabling and life-threatening situations."
Applicants also must be able to cross rough terrain, endure extreme heat and cold, stand for long periods, crouch, kneel, stoop and lift up to 50 pounds.
If this sounds attractive, folks with Cochise County government would like to meet you.
The qualifications for a new emergency services coordinator were put into rough form Tuesday morning by the county Board of Supervisors during a work session. Help-wanted ads will be appearing soon.
The supervisors thought the matter was covered on July 26 when they approve the reassignment of Sheriff's Department Sgt. David Noland as emergency services coordinator, replacing the retiring Robert Bobar. The Health Department agreed to pay 20 percent of the cost of the position with funds from a Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Grant.
The new arrangement didn't work out, Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Lance Crosthwait told the supervisors Tuesday.
Noland, who was the Sheriff Department's search and rescue coordinator, was asked to do the job of two to three people, Crosthwait said. When everyone realized the job demands were too great, Noland returned to his former position and Bobar was called back from retirement.
Bobar told the supervisors Tuesday that he is not interested in staying in the part-time job. The position requires far too much time, he noted.
District 3 Supervisor Les Thompson asked how the position evolved into a multi-employee situation.
County Administrator Jody Klein said it was thought that one position could be funded through the Sheriff's Department and another through the Health Department, with additional funding sought from grants. The new arrangement would enhance communication and co-ordination between the two principal agencies involved in disasters. And, the likelihood of grant funding was greater.
District 2 Supervisor Paul Newman, participating by teleconference from Chicago, said he favored creating a new county homeland security department, with a director, an assistant and a grant function.
"There's literally millions of dollars available," Newman said, referring to Homeland Security funds.
County Health Department Director Diane Carper and Carol Moore, the department's bioterrorism coordinator, were confident the state Department of Health Services would quickly provide funding to help create the office they envision.
The office initially would be supervised by the Sheriff's Department.
"We need to show a commitment to the state," Carper said.
Klein agreed, saying that getting something off the ground would impress state officials.
"You almost have to take the first baby step to make it work," Klein said.
District 1 Supervisor and Board Chairman Pat Call agreed.
"Let's go all out on this," Call said, and find the right person, "not Band-Aid or cobble it together."
The supervisors authorized Crosthwait to advertise the position for three weeks. Klein was asked to assemble a screening and interview panel made up of anyone with a stake in the position.
(Editor's Note: Michael Sullivan is a reporter for the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review.)
Applicants also must be able to cross rough terrain, endure extreme heat and cold, stand for long periods, crouch, kneel, stoop and lift up to 50 pounds.
If this sounds attractive, folks with Cochise County government would like to meet you.
The qualifications for a new emergency services coordinator were put into rough form Tuesday morning by the county Board of Supervisors during a work session. Help-wanted ads will be appearing soon.
The supervisors thought the matter was covered on July 26 when they approve the reassignment of Sheriff's Department Sgt. David Noland as emergency services coordinator, replacing the retiring Robert Bobar. The Health Department agreed to pay 20 percent of the cost of the position with funds from a Bio-Terrorism Preparedness Grant.
The new arrangement didn't work out, Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Lance Crosthwait told the supervisors Tuesday.
Noland, who was the Sheriff Department's search and rescue coordinator, was asked to do the job of two to three people, Crosthwait said. When everyone realized the job demands were too great, Noland returned to his former position and Bobar was called back from retirement.
Bobar told the supervisors Tuesday that he is not interested in staying in the part-time job. The position requires far too much time, he noted.
District 3 Supervisor Les Thompson asked how the position evolved into a multi-employee situation.
County Administrator Jody Klein said it was thought that one position could be funded through the Sheriff's Department and another through the Health Department, with additional funding sought from grants. The new arrangement would enhance communication and co-ordination between the two principal agencies involved in disasters. And, the likelihood of grant funding was greater.
District 2 Supervisor Paul Newman, participating by teleconference from Chicago, said he favored creating a new county homeland security department, with a director, an assistant and a grant function.
"There's literally millions of dollars available," Newman said, referring to Homeland Security funds.
County Health Department Director Diane Carper and Carol Moore, the department's bioterrorism coordinator, were confident the state Department of Health Services would quickly provide funding to help create the office they envision.
The office initially would be supervised by the Sheriff's Department.
"We need to show a commitment to the state," Carper said.
Klein agreed, saying that getting something off the ground would impress state officials.
"You almost have to take the first baby step to make it work," Klein said.
District 1 Supervisor and Board Chairman Pat Call agreed.
"Let's go all out on this," Call said, and find the right person, "not Band-Aid or cobble it together."
The supervisors authorized Crosthwait to advertise the position for three weeks. Klein was asked to assemble a screening and interview panel made up of anyone with a stake in the position.
(Editor's Note: Michael Sullivan is a reporter for the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review.)
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