By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
The Elmore County Commission honored a longtime employee for their many years of service at the meeting Monday. David Brunson was recognized for his distinguished 17-plus years career with the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security. He began his career in 2007 with Elmore County as the Deputy Director. Brunson has announced he will be retiring and was a special guest at the Monday meeting of the Commission.
Elmore County EMA Director Keith Barnett first addressed the Commission.
“David is moving home with his family, son, new grandson, daughter and the rest of the family back to Mobile where he is originally from,” Barnett said. “We are very proud of David and the accomplishments he has made.”
Barnett wanted to point out a few things that Brunson has done during his time with the county.
“He was able to obtain a master’s level certification in emergency management from the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers. David is the reason that Elmore has a CERT program, a Community Emergency Response Team. The reason it is as successful as it is, is because David had the vision years ago and the drive to get it stared. He kicked off the Amateur Radio In Emergency Services Program.”
This program involves amateur radio operators that come into the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when an emergency situation is activated. The program has people that are out in the field riding, storm watchers and spotters, and they report back incidents and what they are seeing.
“He has served as the liaison for the Elmore County Firefighters for many years along with his service as a firefighter in the Santuck Community and Santuck Volunteer Fire Department,” Barnett said. “He was instrumental in the new EOC being built, and the new storage building, helping to design and organize it, helping to get it up and running. He was the heart and soul behind all of that.”
But Barnett said, most importantly, “What we will miss the most about David is there has not been a single incident involving a citizen in this county that David has not personally taken to heart himself. We are not just talking about the big disasters. David knows everyone that needs to be called, all of the volunteer groups, people that help and cut trees. But it is also those days in between when some of you up here have called me and said you have an elderly citizen who’s water well is not working.”
Barnett said Brunson knew exactly how to help. Or whenever a fire occurs, or leaking roofs, he was always there to find help and answers for citizens or the county.
“David will not let it go. He takes it to heart. If he has a fault, his heart is bigger than this room,” Barnett said.
Barnett said he hopes to find another person with the same heart and drive which Brunson has displayed during his long career.
As for Brunson, he said when he started 17 years ago, the EMA office and EOC were down in the basement in a tiny room. He can remember an emergency incident in 2011, officials couldn’t even fit in the room.
Brunson said at one point, and with the help of Martha Roby and the , funds became available to construct a $4.7 million building to house the 911 Administrative office, 911 dispatch and the EOC.
“We have trained a lot of law enforcement, a lot of firefighters,” Brunson said. “None of it would be possible without the Elmore County Commission and the things you do. People do not realize what you do for the Fire Association and law enforcement groups. Again, I just thank you for what you have done to let us go and take care of citizens,” Brunson said.
Brunson said the EMA department and county employees are filled with great people who will come in behind him.
“Keith (Barnett) has been such a fantastic leader in our organization,” he said. “Up until Keith came, we had only had maybe one or two tornadoes. Of course, since he has been here, we have had 17.”
Brunson thanked the Commission for their recognition.
“You have supported us more than the citizens know. I am leaving it in good hands.”
Brunson said he was always told to leave things better than he found them. “I hope I have done that.”
Commissioners assured him, he has done exactly that.
“We can do all the good things that we need to do, but if we do not have good people around us to make sure the mission is carried out, it is worthless. Words cannot express my gratitude for your years of service, not only with EMA but with our fire departments. You identify a need and you get it done. You are going to leave a void. You have some good people around you and the job will continue to get done. But we will not have David Brunson here anymore to do it.”
Commissioner Desirae Jackson thanked Brunson for his help in her first four years as a commissioner, and everything she learned from his experience.
Commission Chairman Mercer then read the Resolution approved to honor him for his distinguished service. You can read it below.
