After serving in the position for more than a year and a half, Newton County Emergency Management Director John Williamson is stepping down to take the deputy emergency management director position in Lauderdale County.
Williamson took over in March 2016 for former emergency management director Scott Smith, who took over the position of county landfill manager after Richard Woodham announced his retirement. His last day will be today, Sept. 20.
Williamson, who grew up and lives in Lauderdale County, started his career with the Meridian Fire Department in July 1997. For four of his 15 years with the MFD, he also worked with Metro Ambulance Service as an emergency medical technician.
He said that the chance to continue doing what he loved in his home county was the main reason for his decision to make the move.
“I know a lot of people there, and I have a lot of contacts there. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy my job here in Newton County because I love it, but a door opened for an opportunity to move back to my home county,” Williamson said. “So it was a situation where I had to take it now or the door was going to close.”
Williamson joined the Newton Fire Department in 2012 and has also been trained as a swift water and floodwater rescue technician and a hazmat technician.
Williamson said that Lauderdale County and Newton County first responders will still regularly cooperate on emergencies and disasters such as tornadoes.
“I told the board of supervisors, County Administrator Steve Seale and a lot of the agencies here that I’m leaving them my personal cell number, and if they have any questions about how anything operates in emergency management here or if they need help with anything I’ll always be available to answer any questions and help in any way I can,” he said.
County Board of Supervisors President Joe Alexander said the board will discuss the search for a new EMA director at Thursday’s regular meeting.
