Keith Vestal, a Yadkin County native and longtime emergency worker for the county, was named last week as the county's first emergency-services director.
He'll oversee Yadkin County's emergency management, emergency medical service and fire marshal's office.
Each of those agencies had previously reported to the county manager. The reorganization, which took effect this year with Vestal as the interim director, provides a centralized department.
County Manager Aaron Church said the reorganization will save about $50,000 a year in salary by eliminating one position, but that the bigger issue was to streamline responses to disasters.
"The biggest benefit to the citizens is when a state of emergency is declared or something goes wrong, we'll all know who is in charge," Church said.
Vestal, 46, grew up in Jonesville. He has worked for the county for 25 years. His new salary is $58,542.
An Army veteran and medic, he started with Yadkin County as an emergency medical technician when he was in paramedic school.
He had most recently been training officers for emergency medical services, the group that provides ambulance service. Since 1991, Vestal has also been a sworn deputy with the Yadkin County Sheriff's Office, serving under three sheriffs.
The county's emergency medical services director resigned last spring. That position won't be filled directly, but the responsibilities will shift to a major, an officer who will be hired as part of the reorganization.
Vestal said putting things under the new structure will improve communications and help people work together.
"The common goal is to get better service out to the citizens of the county," he said.
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