The Coweta County (Newnan, Ga.) board of commissioners has approved a new organizational structure that it hopes will streamline reporting and set up succession planning. Many of these changes are expected to be in effect by Oct. 1.

According to the Newnan Times-Herald, the structure calls for the creation of several divisions in county government. Division directors will oversee various departments and report to one of three assistant county administrators — an increase from the two currently serving. The public safety division covering fire, 911, emergency management and code enforcement will be restructured first. The sheriff's office and jail will remain separate, as the sheriff is an elected official.

Moreover, Coweta County Fire Chief Dennis Hammond has been named division director over public safety. A new chief will be selected in the coming months. Deputy Chief Jay Jones was named as Coweta's emergency management director. Emergency management and 911 departments are being split. But with all these changes, no positions will be cut. In fact, it is estimated that the new structure will require three new hires.

Clearfield (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department's four companies will merge into a single entity, reports the Clearfield Progress . The department already has merged many of its operations, but each company kept its individual organization. After the official merger, finances will be combined, and there no longer will also be separate officers for each company or separate monthly meetings.

The department, once completed, will have a single officers corps with a chief, deputy chief, assistant chief, three captains and three deputies, one each for the aerial ladder truck and the two fire engines. Fire Chief Brett Owens told the paper that he hopes the merger will bring in more federal emergency management grants. He also hopes it will be finalized before year's end so new officers can be elected for 2009.

In response to the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Ed Mitchell in October, Maryville, Tenn., plans to restructure the fire and police departments, consolidating the chief's positions to public safety director. The newly created position is expected to be filled by current police chief Tony Crisp.

According to the Maryville Daily Times, if approved, Crisp would assume his new duties Sept. 3. In this position, he will oversee the operation and management of both the city's fire and police departments.

Crisp told the paper that he is unsure at this time if positions within the two departments will change, saying that both already have efficient chains of commands in place. He also hopes to find ways the departments can work jointly in different operations.

Crisp has 35 years of law enforcement and management experience beginning his career at the Friendsville Police Department in 1973. He assumed chief duties in 2002.