Over the objections and recommendations of the county’s Emergency Management Director, Caldwell Fiscal Court voted narrowly to enter into an agreement with an out-of-state firm to take over the management of the disaster response to the December 10th tornado that ravaged a path across the county. The vote to enter into the agreement with ER Assist Incorporated was 3-2.
Caldwell County Emergency Management Director Joey McCaslin took exception to the action, viewing it as an affront to those who had already been working without pay.
McCaslin went further to point out the expense of this kind of service, while not necessarily to Caldwell County, but to tax payers in general.
In the discussion prior to the vote, Magistrate Jeff Boone expressed his thoughts concerning the need for outside assistance to help in the disaster recovery process.
After the vote to enter into the agreement, it was an obviously frustrated McCaslin that left the meeting room
Again, those voting for the measure were Caldwell Judge-Executive Larry Curling, Magistrate Elbert Bennett, and Magistrate Jeff Boone. Those voting “no” were magistrates Jeff Simms and Brent Stallins.
