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Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Jones County fire chief, EMA director retiring

Allan Green, the Jones County fire chief and director of the Emergency Management Agency, is retiring next month after 32 years on the job.

The 73-year-old will be replaced by Don Graham, an assistant supervisor with The Medical Center of Central Georgia’s ambulance service.

The appointment by Jones County commissioners of someone outside the department has ruffled a few feathers.

Bobby Coulter served as deputy emergency management director until he resigned recently because of the decision to appoint Graham, according to Graham and Commissioner Larry Childs.

“I’ve asked him to stay on,” said Graham, 51.

Graham and Coulter both made it to the final round of interviews, but Graham was selected by a unanimous commission vote.

Bert Liston, another county commissioner, said he thought both men were “very good” candidates.

“They both stood out to me, to be honest,” he said.

Childs said of Graham, “If you look at his résumé, his résumé speaks for itself.”

Graham served 11 years fighting fires in Baldwin County, said Michael Underwood, the Jones County administrator. He has also served as a paramedic for 30 years.

“It’s all I’ve ever done, emergency services,” Graham said.

Graham will be responsible for overseeing the Emergency Management Agency, the fire department and rescue services.

Coulter worked alongside Green for many years, handling many of the duties of the rescue work, Underwood said.

“They worked together on both fire and rescue,” he said. “They made a lot of friends as they worked the system.”

And some of those friends, who work as volunteers, weren’t happy about the decision not to hire Coulter.

“I think that many of the volunteers think that (Coulter) should have the job,” Childs said.

Attempts to reach Coulter this week were not successful.

Green steps down July 7 and will begin helping orient Graham next week.

Green said he will miss the job.

“I’m going to miss all the volunteers,” he said. “The heart-warming part is when you go out and help somebody in a time when they really need help.”

To contact writer Eric Newcomer, call 744-4494.