Jim Huestis is trading in his hat for a different one.
After working as building inspector and code enforcement officer for the City of Senatobia since October 2018, he was recently hired as Tate County Emergency Management Director and county fire coordinator.
Huestis is replacing Kim Brownlee, who served the county for 23 years including the last several years in both positions before retiring in March.
“We are excited about what Jim brings to the table and his future vision for both departments,” said Tony Sandridge, president of the Tate County Board of Supervisors. “At the same time, we are grateful for Kim’s dedication in making our county a safer place to live.”
Each county in Mississippi has a full or part-time emergency management director appointed by local government who coordinates with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to safeguard the state and its citizens by fostering a culture of preparedness, executing timely responses during disasters, and quickly restoring quality of life post-event.
Recognizing that emergency management begins and ends at the local level, MEMA is a vital asset for the state of Mississippi. Regardless of the threat, MEMA plans and prepares for emergency scenarios, respond to and support local EMAs during emergency events, and coordinate and resource recovery efforts in the wake of a disaster.
In his new position, Huestis will also act a liaison between county fire departments and the Board of Supervisors.
“I am excited about the new job and looking forward to any challenges that might come my way,” Huestis said.
A 1980 graduate of Independence High School, Huestis spent the last four years ensuring the City of Senatobia’s ordinances and codes were being followed. He also inspected buildings and businesses for fire and safety codes and regularly checked in on construction sites to make sure standards were up to code.
Huestis worked nine months as a certified residential building inspector in Hernando before he was hired by Senatobia.
Previously, Huestis was a firefighter for the Memphis Fire Department for 28 years and held the rank of lieutenant the last 22 years of his tenure there.
Although Huestis is just settling into his new position, he is committed to serving Tate County.
“There are no changes in the immediate future. I plan on continuing to give the citizens of Tate County the best service possible” he added
