Borough EMS director will leave post in May

WASILLA — When budget planning is completed for the Mat-Su Borough later this spring, it will herald the end of an era of emergency service.

Dennis Brodigan, the director of the borough’s roughly $27-million-budget Department of Emergency Services — which employs firefighters, paramedics, rescue personnel, and emergency medical technicians — will tentatively depart the position in May, citing personal reasons.

“It’s basically been a long career,” Brodigan said. “I’ve been doing this for going on 45 years now, not only in Alaska. It’s been a very long career in emergency services. As I get older, the energy levels wane a little bit, and it’s time for someone else to step up.”

Brodigan started with borough emergency services on Sept. 11, 2002, as a deputy director. He was promoted to the position of director Jan. 1, 2004. Under his almost-13-year tenure in the position, fire and emergency services have seen steadily improved ISO ratings.

The department is tasked with coordinating eight fire service areas and running the 911 emergency phone system, among other responsibilities.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said. “It’s 24 hours per day, and I’ve been doing that for 12 years.”

The official effective date on Brodigan’s letter of resignation is May 18, though the intention of the resignation is to leave after the completion of the budgeting process.

“The thought process was that we’re right in the middle of the fiscal year 2016 budget, and I didn’t want to abandon that process, just to make for a smoother transition.”

The almost two-month lead-in to the resignation was also designed to allow borough officials time to identify and hire (or promote) a replacement, Brodigan said. Officials in several capacities, including deputy directors Clint Vardeman and Ken Barclay — as well as emergency manager Casey Cook, West Lakes fire chief Bill Gamble and Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele, to name a few — could step in to fill his shoes, Brodigan said.

“I’ve been very blessed to have a great staff both in the leadership, and in the firefighters and medical personnel who work every day,” he said.

John Moosey credited Brodigan with overseeing big changes both in the department and the make up of its constituents.

“He has really led our department of emergency services forward,” he said. “We are right now in a transition period from a strictly volunteer to a more urban model. Dennis was a part of that leadership. He’s been a very good public servant.”

Borough officials had only just begun to examine their options for hiring a replacement direction Monday, Moosey said.

“I’m going to be looking for strong leadership,” he said. “How I’m going to do that … I’m still putting a plan together.”

Borough officials hadn’t yet decided whether they would hire from without or promote from within, and any final decision may ultimately rest with the borough assembly.

Any replacement director faces a tall order, based on Brodigan’s description of the job.

“This is a big responsibility,” he said. “It’s a geographical area the size of the state of West Virginia.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.