By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Columbus County’s Emergency Services medical director may have thought a debate that erupted years ago involving the renewal of his contract was over.

But it’s not.

Columbus County Fire and Rescue Association President Tony Miller will ask the Columbus County Board of commissioners to not only remove Obrecht from his position but also nurse liaison Becky Smith.

A letter signed by the association’s vice president, Sara Spivey, lists all rescue squads but Whiteville as being in favor of the removal but does not specify why.

Attempts to get in touch with Miller at his home Friday were unsuccessful.

“We wish both Dr. Obrecht and Mrs. Smith well, but believe that Columbus County and its emergency medical service providers will be better served with a change at this time,” the letter reads.

A separate letter bearing Miller’s name requests the item be added to the commissioner’s agenda for Monday night.

“I’m probably headed out but I’m going to tell the truth when I go out,” Obrecht said Sunday (Aug. 19). “I have a rebuttal planned.”

Obrecht said he believes the request is misleading and does not reflect the true opinion of all rescue personnel. He said he has spoken with some personnel from the departments listed and chiefs are implying “the whole squad is behind them.”

Obrecht believes the request stems from recent discussions he has had with some chiefs about missed calls and personnel doubling as fire personnel.

“When I track missed calls and discuss this with the people missing calls they become angry,” Obrecht said.

He said a chief telling him that the squad “can’t get to them all” is a problem.

“In my world that’s not good enough,” he said. “There’s no excuse for that.”

He gave the example of a child drowning in a swimming pool and needed resuscitating equipment.

In some places EMTs double as firefighters. He said that can be a problem if back-up rescue personnel don’t have the same level of certification as those they are covering.

“That is illegal,” Obrecht said. “You can’t be a paramedic (unit) at day and basic at night; it has got to be a consistent level of care.”

He said he would have more to say tonight.

“If I picked up the phone and called 911 and the first crew never showed and it took 45 minutes to get the second, I would feel like the system had failed me” Obrecht said. “That’s what I am going to take the hit for.”

Obrecht told The News Reporter last week he had mixed feelings about a memo that remains partially secret. Though it discusses him he too has been denied access to the document.

The N.C. Court of Appeals recently ordered portions of the memo be released after The News Reporter and Tabor Loris Tribune sued for access.

Then-Emergency Services Director Ronnie Hayes wrote to the county a memo stating that the three-person committee of the Board of Commissioners told Hayes to find a new medical director. Hayes recommended Dr. Peggy Barnhill.

“I’m disappointed that there was a secret memo,” Obrecht said. “The issues were never brought to my attention by Mr. Hayes.”

He said Hayes served on committees with him but did not approach him about any personal differences.

“Whatever criticisms lie in a secret memo by the very nature of the secretiveness make it impossible for me to respond to it,” Obrecht explained. “Whatever criticisms or untruths were made present would make it difficult for me to challenge.

“I remain concerned that contents of a secret memo can’t be challenged, responded to or defended against, yet that content still has the capacity to damage my reputation and perhaps my livelihood.

“That said, the issues at the time — the issues in the EMS system — have long been resolved and my goal is that we be open and respectful of one another and work for the common good of the citizens we serve,” Obrecht said.

The public portions of Hayes’ September 2005 memo pointed out that the commissioners’ personnel committee asked Hayes to find a replacement for Obrecht, but not why.

Hayes recommended that Dr. Peggy Barnhill be appointed the emergency services medical director.

Obrecht is paid $15,000 a year in quarterly installments. His contract automatically renews in July each year.

The medical director’s budget totals $53,000 and includes travel, uniforms, training, office supplies and half ($25,000) of the nurse liaison’s salary. Columbus Regional pays half of the nurse’s salary.