Some Pender County commissioners continue push for takeover of Pender EMS & Fire
BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — The Pender County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday night continuing to put the spotlight on Pender EMS & Fire, the private, non-profit organization that contracts with other groups to provide fire and emergency response services to parts of the county.
Commissioner Brent Springer introduced a resolution that declared the Board of Directors of Pender EMS & Fire “vacant” and put some commissioners in charge on an interim basis.
“County Board of Commissioners have lost trust and confidence in the current Pender EMS & Fire Board of Directors ability to act in the best interest of the residents of Pender County,” Springer said.
The resolution would allow the county manager to audit the organization’s most recent fiscal year which, according to Commissioner Springer, saw over $20 million in taxpayer funds.
The resolution was amended after consultations with the county’s attorney. One problem with the initial resolution was that having three members of the Board of Commissioners coming together to run a Pender EMS & Fire Board of Directors meeting could constitute a quorum, so that it could be, in essence, a Board of Commissioners meeting without every commissioner present.
Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the amended resolution, with Brad George voting against it.
“To have this done by December 30, 2025; that affects a lot of people,” George said. “That affects fire and EMS workers; that affects citizens that pay insurance; that affects the citizens that are sick that depend on EMS to be there.”
Burton had previously suggested bringing the organization under the county government, to help handle the expected increase in population in the coming years.
“We’re the fifth fastest growing county in the country right now and I think with that, fire EMS and law enforcement services are going to have to grow and add as our population and density occurs,” Burton said at the time.
George says he is not opposed to making it happen, but is not happy with how fast the transition appears to be happening.
“It took New Hanover County Fire — and if Chief Morris were here, he could tell you — they just finished: It took 15 years,” George said. “This is not something that you can do overnight.”
In a letter released Wednesday, Pender County EMS & Fire Chief James Everett Baysden stated transparency has always been a priority for the organization.
“We hire a third party to conduct a full independent audit every year, which is provided to the county to show how tax dollars are being spent and how funds are used,” Baysden said.
Baysden encourages residents to attend a Pender EMS & Fire special meeting at 6 p.m. on March 19.
