|
O'Neal resigns as Garrard EMS director (October 31, 2012) |
LANCASTER — During a special-called Garrard County Fiscal Court meeting on Monday, Judge-Executive John Wilson shared Charles “Chuck” O’Neal had resigned from his position as EMS Director.
Near the end of the meeting, the court entered into executive session so it could conduct interviews of prospective new directors. Three of the four candidates were interviewed Monday, with the fourth not yet scheduled.
“The Fiscal Court has been very supportive of allowing me to make decisions that enhanced the EMS,” O’Neal said in a phone interview.
He added the court had given him a great deal of “autonomy” during his time as director.
O’Neal has accepted a position as the deputy executive director on the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services in Versailles, in which he will operate in a regulatory fashion over EMS providers and agencies throughout the state.
The Garrard EMS director position was posted on various websites, and prospective candidates submitted their resumes to the county. O’Neal was asked to appoint current employees to a committee to examine each of the resumes, and score them. The top four resumes were selected to be interviewed. He believes this method makes the transition easier.
“It empowers the staff by allowing them to have decision-making influence,” O’Neal said.
The Garrard County EMS has made great strides during his time as director, O’Neal says, and he believes a director will be selected who will continue to help the service expand.
O’Neal became the director in July 2011, after a ninth-month search following the retirement of director Colby Arnold, who departed from the position in September 2010.
