Pike emergency director job

By BRIAN BLACKLEY

Managing Editor

Feb. 9, 2000 10 PM

The Pike County Board of Commissioners has culled a list of applicants for the position of emergency management director to six.

The move came as the result of Ralph Fowee’s recent retirement from the position, and commissioners were scheduled to interview candidates well into the night Thursday.

According to County Administrator Steve Hicks, a list of 13 applicants was trimmed to seven, and one of the seven candidates withdrew, leaving the commission with six applicants to interview.

"This is the first round of interviews," Hicks said. "A decision may or may not be made based on the interviews being conducted, but we do expect to make a decision in the coming weeks."

Of the six applicants, five are from Pike County, and one is currently serving as emergency management director in Barbour County.

The list includes the following people:

· Sandra Cumby of Eufala. She currently serves as Barbour County EMD.

· Larry Davis of Brundidge. Davis is retired from the Army National Guard and serves as a housing rehabilitation specialist for cities receiving block grants.

· Hubert Deslie Galloway of Troy. Galloway is employed with Haynes Ambulance Service and is an instructor at the Alabama Fire College.

· Ronnie Powell of Troy. Powell is retired from his position as Pike County probate judge.

· Joe Richard Stevens of Troy. Stevens is a retired federal employee.

· Michael Bruce Tatom of Troy. Tatom is employed with the U.S. Army National Guard.

Hicks said no timeline for filling the position has been established, but he is hopeful the commission will make a decision soon.

"The commission may interview other applicants, choose to do a second interview with a smaller list, or it could come to a conclusion relatively quickly," Hicks said. "We don’t anticipate it being a long time, but we will have to see how the interviews go and see where the commissioners are once they are over."

Also sitting in on the interviews is Gary Morrison, the state emergency coordinator for the area.

"He will serve as a point of reference should any of the commissioners have questions about the position and what it entails," Hicks said. "He will be working closely with the Pike County agency and the commissioners are happy he will be available to help answer any of their questions."

Fowee served in the position as a part-time employee, but the commission is seeking some to serve full-time since Fowee’s retirement.