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Pender County, NC (ET) – The plan for Pender County, Pender EMS and Fire is not well sitting at the center of the merger.

“The resolution was a big surprise for us,” Pender EMS and fire chief Everett Baysden told opposite Thursday.

The resolution, which was made on Monday evening at a meeting of the district officers by Pender County, will take over the district by the end of the year full control over Pender EMS and fire.

“This follows long-term discussions between the district and the Pender EMS and Fire and is used with service models that are used in other counties. The transition does not affect other local EMS and fire brigade organizations. The focus of the district is on the creation of a strong system managed by County that improves the reaction of emergency and public trust, ”said a spokesman for the district in a statement.

According to the district, the decision is made after “non -compliance” by EMS and Fire's Board of Directors to provide documents about how to spend County money.

The resolution also included the decision to dissolve the director of the Pender EMS & Fire Inc.

The board consisted of five residents of the districts of Pender County, including a commissioner who was previously appointed by Commissioners.

The resolution presented would have all Pender EMS & Fire Board of Directors effectively cleared their positions.

The commissioners then appointed themselves as interim board members.

“The Commissioners Burton, Grove and Springer are appointed Interims' Board of Directors of Pender Ems & Fire to serve until the district can advertise, recruit and present additional candidates of the board member,” said Commissioner Brent Springer when he read the resolution.

The resolution takes place after the long -term debate about the district under the takeover of the Pender EMS and Fire, a private non -profit company.

Commissioner Springer said on Thursday that there should be more transparency about where to go.

“The County Manager was met with resistance because he does not want to turn his financial data around. It's not a big deal. We will take it over and then we will get everything we need, ”said Springer during the meeting on Monday evening.

As part of the decision, Springer stated: “Pender County Board of Commissioners has lost trust and trust in the current ability of the Pender EMS and the Fire Board of Directors to act in the best interest of Pender County's residents.”

This led to an outbreak by Chief Baysden, who had been running the organization for over 30 years.

“We at Pender EMS and Fire have nothing to hide,” said Baysden to Wect.

According to an exam report from 2023, Ems and Fire achieved sales of over 20 million US dollars, with management salaries increased by over 160,000 in a single year.

“District taxpayers pay a lot of money,” said Springer. “There was an e -mail traffic that drove back and forth for the request for documentation that was not brought up, and I just try to bring this to the public.”

But Baysden says they are not problems that affect money.

“We are a sovereign company. We have never mistreated a circular money. Every money we receive goes to protect Pender County, ”he said.

Baysden says that this merger was long ago and it is not against it.

But he fears what could happen to the advantages of the almost 250 employees he employs, especially long -time employees.

“The employees have to be protected,” said Baysden.

Springer says that this shouldn't be a problem.

“We had to take care of people on the ground who climbed into the truck at 3, 4 in the morning,” said Springer.

Chief Baysden encourages the residents to take part in a Pender EMS & Fire parent assembly on March 19 at 6 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Chambers.

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