Emergency Management Director Up in the Air (Update)

Update: In a telephone conversation this morning, county Councilman George Bailey has said he will recommend council hires a full-time emergency management director. 

The previous emergency management director for Dorchester County held that position in part-time. 

According to the Post and Courier, Bailey will recommend to "combine the director job with an emergency planner job instead." According to Bailey, it would be more like just hiring the full-time emergency management director and continuing to leave the emergency planner position vacant. That position has been vacant with the county for three years.

"If we haven't had it for that position for this long and we don't need it now," Bailey said.

When asked what the difference is between the two positions, Bailey said he didn't know, but reiterated that the county "could hold off on this position," referring to the planner position.

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This morning's Post and Courier story has been interpretted by some as Dorchester County Council Vice Chairman Bailey will not recommending a full-time hire at the regular meeting of council 7 p.m. tonight at Summerville chambers.

Bailey told Patch on July 7 that he planned to recommend the county hire a full-time emergency management director.

According to state law, counties must have an emergency management department and "shall provide  for the appointment of an emergency preparedness director." 

The law lists these recommended qualifications for that position. However, it does not state any required certifications from that state emergency management division or otherwise. The law refers to qualifications set by Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those qualifications have been requested by Patch but have not yet been received. 

The law states "All counties, regardless of population, which face the potential impact of a major hazard, should appoint a paid director who shall perform emergency preparedness functions on a full-time basis." 

It is unclear if Bailey's proposed hybrid position would be an emergency management director who has emergency planner responsibilities, a emergency planner who has emergency management director responsibilities or if it would create an entirely new position. However, according to the Post and Courier story, his plan would save the county $48,000.

Updated for clarifications.