Local News

Chris Mont EMA Moves Closer to Demise

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:42:01 CDT
We recently told you that Christian County wanted a divorce when it came to the Chris-Mont E-M-A arrangement for emergency services. Now like a literal divorce, the split may become a battle over money and some of the parting words aren't all that friendly. The Christian County Board this week unanimously approved a recommendation that County board Chairman Matt Wells move to dissolve the consolidated EMA Services. Christian County already indicated intent to end the agreement in communication from the Christian County Board's Personnel Committee. Now, Christian County can give 90 days notice to end the intergovernmental agreement. Reports out of Taylorville indicate Treasurer Betty Asmussen addressed the board, saying both counties think the other county owes the other money. Chairman Wells told members he believes Christian County got shortchanged and they want to make sure that Montgomery County got their fair share of the bills from the merger which took effect in late 2019. The process of sorting out who owes who gets even more difficult with the departure of former Director Greg Nimmo, who went to work for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. In a sign of how certain it appears the One Team, One Fight era is over, Chairman Wells is in talks with an unnamed individual to become a consultant to the county and later take on the role of Director of Christian County’s Emergency Management Services (EMS).