Prep Football: Cards meet rivals in return to field

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go get them fellas,and have a great season...read more...

Work for future uncovers past

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Painteddragonfly, I'm sure the church would be most happy to do a restoration, provided you and othe...read more...

Work for future uncovers past

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Painted Dragonfly ...I agree also. I'm surprised members of this church have not spoken out....read more...

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Clark County has remained without a local rescue squad for three weeks now as disputes over protocol and personality conflicts continue to carve a rift between squad members and the Clark County Fiscal Court.

Following a closed session meeting on May 12, the court rescinded its affiliation with the rescue squad amid fears that squad members were not adhering to regulations in the agreement.

County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said officials will reinstate the squad only if it can prove all rules are being followed.

“(The Fiscal Court) wants the rescue squad to assure them that the affiliation is being complied with and will be complied with in its entirety,” he said. “The reason the Fiscal Court wants this is they are cognizant of the liability of county government and its citizens.”

Meanwhile, Squad Chief Bobby Bailey said the court is retaliating over a personnel action.

Bailey said he removed three squad members who were friends with Emergency Management Director Gary Epperson. Since then, Epperson and the court has been searching for ways to quibble over minor issues, he said.

“We have never had a problem,” Bailey said. “I don’t think they are giving us a fair break.”

The rescue squad is a private non-profit group of about 15 volunteers that has worked with city and county responders for decades.

Since the beginning of the year, local officials, along with the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management have been warning the squad to adhere more closely to rules in the county’s affiliation agreement.

Branham said concerns emerged that squad members were self-deploying, using unauthorized lights and sirens and disregarding protocol. Also, the squad is not certified to direct traffic, he said.

In March, Branham and Epperson sent a letter instructing the squad to address the concerns. Troubles came to a head in May, however, during a flood rescue operation.

Fiscal Court members reviewed a photo of a swift water rescue on Stoner Ephesus Road in which two flood victims and three of four rescuers appeared to not have life jackets. In addition, rescuers were using an unproved boat, said Branham.

“That sent up the alarm all over again,” he said.

Bailey acknowledged that only one person was wearing a life jacket during the operation. But the squad did not have properly-sized jackets for the victims, he said. Instead rescuers had them sit on floatation devices and cling to the boat, which is designed to float if it capsizes. In addition, rescuers were steadying the boat from all four sides, said Bailey.

He added that the rescuers were not in danger and preferred fewer clothes if they needed to swim.

The chief also acknowledged that lights were used en route, but said a slow traveling motorist was stalling the rescue, and he felt the lives of the women took priority. During the operation, all the appropriate officials knew the squad was deployed, he said.

In response to the concerns over directing traffic, Bailey believes that the certification does not even exist. If it does, he insisted that it should apply to all law enforcement and volunteers who park cars.

Bailey threatened to file a lawsuit if the county uses anyone without certification to direct parking. He also questioned why officials have just now raised concerns when the squad has operated for so long.

Branham said he is unaware of a personal disagreement between Epperson and the squad. But he predicted that officials would probably reinstate the squad once issues are resolved.

“I would certainly doubt that Gary would have the ability to have the Kentucky Emergency Management Office act on a personal vendetta,” he said. “I can tell you this, the Fiscal Court and me, we would certainly not disaffiliate over a personal vendetta.”

Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.

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