By Joel Spears

SURGOINSVILLE — If an ordinance passes its second reading next month, Church Hill EMS will be authorized by Surgoinsville officials to provide ambulance service to that area of the county.
    In previous years, Hawkins County EMS, located in Rogersville, has provided emergency medical services to Surgoinsville, but on Monday the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved first reading of an ordinance to grant those rights to the Church Hill-based company.
    Fred Arnold, president of Church Hill EMS, attended the BMA meeting and said the company plans a “long term stay” in Surgoinsville if the measure obtains final approval.
    According to Mayor Johnny Greer, plans call for a Church Hill EMS ambulance to be housed temporarily at Surgoinsville Fire Department while a new location for a Church Hill EMS substation is being decided.
    “We’re looking forward to having the security of an EMS back in Surgoinsville,” Greer said.  He noted while the town has had a good working relationship with Hawkins County EMS, “something had to be done” to improve emergency response times to calls made in the town after some complaints were made.
    Greer and Arnold noted response times will be cut from the  13-mile drive at Hawkins County EMS to having an ambulance stationed in town.
    In other business, the BMA approved a resolution proclaiming the month of May in Surgoinsville as “Dr. Conner Lyons Day.”  
    Mayor Greer signed a proclamation to honor the late Dr. Lyons for his civic and other contributions to the town from his early years until his death in 1966.
    A well-known area physician who practiced medicine in Hawkins and Sullivan counties 51 years, Lyons was also Surgoinsville’s first mayor although the municipality had been incorporated for 142 years prior to his election.