Latest news with #JeremySmith
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County creates public safety director role
Daviess Fiscal Court approved the creation of a public safety director position and promoted Daviess County Fire Chief Jeremy Smith to fill the role during its meeting Thursday night at the Daviess County Courthouse. Daviess Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said he had for some time been looking to see if there was a way for the county to better provide and address public safety. 'Just over time I've looked at it, and from my perspective, this is an opportunity to try to maximize inter-agency communication and cooperation, to develop and update organizational emergency response protocols, to enhance communication with staff and all of our first-responder agencies that are in Fiscal Court, and just to ensure that Daviess County consistently has the highest quality resources, services for public safety.' Castlen said the position is not an overlap with the duties of the county's Emergency Management Agency. 'It's not in the same realm,' he said. 'EMA is primarily planning and reacting to an emergency, and I guess at some level, for lesser emergencies, the same would be true for fire departments and police. 'I think that Jeremy's role is going to be more of an oversight. It's connecting the two agencies, and a lot of bigger counties have a public safety director position. It's not unique to us.' Castlen said public safety is 'absolutely' among his highest priorities. 'I think that's the real reason that we have our government,' he said, 'is to be able to deal with those things that the private sector is really not designed to deal with.' Castlen said Smith's experience as fire chief, which he became in 2019, made him an excellent choice for the position. 'With Jeremy, with his depth of knowledge and his skill set, he's a good fit for it,' said Castlen, who anticipates there being multiple in-house candidates interested in the fire chief position. 'There is not an obvious pick; we've got three or four fire assistant chiefs. I would think all of them might have some level of interest unless they just decide, 'I don't want to be fire chief.' ' Smith will officially begin his new role Sunday. The annual salary for the position is $120,000, which County Treasurer Jordan Johnson said will be partially funded through attrition. In another personnel move, Fiscal Court approved reclassifying David Smith as parks director, a position he has held on an interim basis. Smith was previously the county's director of legislative services. 'David has been in that role for five or six months, and I think he's done a good job,' Castlen said. 'He and I have talked about whether or not he wanted to remain in that or whether or not it was something where he would switch back to his old position and we would put it out to the public to be parks director. 'But he indicated an interest in filling that role, and he absolutely has shown he can do the job.' Castlen said at this time he doesn't anticipate filling the director of legislative services position, since the position had evolved since he took office. 'He will assist as needed, but in his old job he was also over the landfill and the animal control, so David had some people reporting to him,' Castlen said. 'I made the decision that I have department heads report directly to me. 'But one of the things that David has a tremendous skill set on is research, a skill set that is very beneficial. I'll still call on him.'
ABC News
06-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Sexism, bullying, harassment of staff at Tasmania Fire Service, SES, workplace culture report finds
Workplace bullying is a "pervasive and deeply ingrained issue" within the Tasmania Fire Service and State Emergency Service, and sexual harassment is "prevalent, underreported, and often minimised", a workplace culture review has found. The The review found bullying was "widespread and persistent, across all seniorities and ranks", according to survey respondents. ( Tasmania Fire Service ) Tasmanian Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Jeremy Smith said the report acknowledged the culture was changing for the better, "but TFS and SES has work to do to strengthen belonging and safety", something he said the organisations were committed to. "When our communities need help, we step up and work together. But that professionalism and support for each other does not always happen in our day to day activities and workplaces," Mr Smith said. Survey highlights an 'exclusionary culture' and workplace bullying "Participants in the review highlighted a persistent boys' club" mentality within the TFS and SES, "contributing to exclusionary practices and a culture of manipulation and division," the report reads. "This sentiment was echoed by all genders, demonstrating how the 'in-group versus out-group' dynamic affects various demographics. "Participants described an environment where those within the inner circle received opportunities for training, advancement, and inclusion, while those on the outside faced isolation, limited opportunities, and a lack of support. "There is very little diversity in thinking, and the culture remains dominated by an 'alpha male' mentality," one participant said. The review found while there had been some positive developments within the TFS and SES, namely stronger mental health support, emerging inclusive leadership, and a growing recognition of a need for change, challenges remained. "Issues such as exclusionary practices, perceptions of favouritism, and divisions between different workforce groups continue to impact workplace culture," the report reads. " Women, in particular, report higher levels of exclusion and lower confidence in meaningful cultural change. " The review also found exclusion and bias persisted across various groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent. One in five report experience of bullying The review found that the "predominant belief" among those who participated in the review was that bullying was "widespread and persistent, across all seniorities and ranks". Of the participants, 23 per cent said they had experienced bullying in the past five years, and 15 per cent said they had experienced bullying in the past year. The report found one in six, or 15 per cent, of respondents indicated they had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years — and one in 10, or 10 per cent, had experienced sexual harassment in the past year. ( Tasmania SES ) For the TFS and SES, employees were more likely to report they had experienced bullying in the past five years (39 per cent and 38 per cent respectively) compared with TFS and SES volunteers (20 per cent and 22 per cent respectively). One participant told the reviewer: "I managed many staff in my previous job. In my entire time in that work, I've never seen what I've seen at TFS. [The bullying], it's been some of the darkest and most inhumane behaviour I've ever experienced. It's been damaging." "The data presented highlights the widespread nature of bullying, the serious health and wellbeing impacts for those affected, and the systemic cultural factors that allow it to persist," the report reads. The review found there were some within the TFS and SES who perceived bullying as "harmless banter or a matter of individual resilience", but that: "The overwhelming evidence suggests that bullying is a serious and systemic problem that cannot be ignored. A culture of silence, fear of retaliation, and lack of effective leadership intervention have allowed these behaviours have allowed these behaviours to persist." Mostly men in senior roles If you or anyone you know needs help: According to the report, as of June last year, 22 per cent of the TFS workforce was made up of women, up slightly from 18 per cent in 2020. Of the 4,581 TFS volunteers, 79 per cent are male. TFS leadership roles are almost entirely occupied by men. There are 711 SES volunteers, of whom approximately 35 per cent are female. The review found that while there had been "notable progress" in relation to gender inclusion, "significant barriers" remained. "Despite broad agreement that sexism is 'not tolerated,'" the lived experiences of many women within the TFS and SES suggest otherwise. Everyday sexism, negative attitudes toward gender equality, and ongoing structural barriers continue to shape their experiences," the report reads. "Some women report being undermined, overlooked for opportunities, or subjected to inappropriate behaviour, while men in the service have expressed concerns — often unfounded — about women's capability and the perceived impact of diversity efforts on merit-based selection." One participant said: "I know what the organisation wants to hear—there's a massive push for gender equality, aiming for a 50/50 balance between males and females. "But over the last 15 years, I haven't seen a white, male career firefighter featured in any of the organisation's materials. The pendulum has swung too far the other way." The review also found sexual harassment remained "prevalent, underreported, and often minimised by those in positions of influence". It also found one in six, or 15 per cent, of respondents indicated they had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years — and one in 10, or 10 per cent, had experienced sexual harassment in the past year. "The reluctance to acknowledge or address these behaviours perpetuates a culture where inappropriate conduct is tolerated, creating harm not only for individuals but for the overall effectiveness and reputation of the TFS and SES," the report reads. The culture within the services "remains dominated by an 'Alpha male' mentality", the report found. ( Tasmania Fire Service: A Zelinski ) Management pledge to 'hold ourselves to account' Mr Smith said the experiences of bullying and sexual harassment were "unacceptable". "To employees and volunteers who have been harmed by these behaviours, I am deeply sorry for the hurt you experienced," he said. "I am committed, along with the SFC [State Fire Commission] and the TFS and SES Executive, to building safe and respectful workplaces. "Today, the Executive and I have signed a Statement of Commitment, which is a declaration of our intent to act on the findings of the report and hold ourselves to account as leaders. "We will build on our progress — it will take time, but we are committed." The review has made 26 recommendations. They include: Leaders making a commitment to cultural change Increasing gender and diversity representation in leadership Introduce training for all employees and volunteers that builds a culture of psychological safety, inclusion and respect Introduce a clear, consistent promotion and appointment process for all employee and volunteer (brigade) leadership positions Improve confidential and safe reporting systems Strengthen safe workspaces for women Strengthen policy frameworks for inclusion, and review and modernise policies that create inappropriate barriers to women's participation
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Don't List Your House for Sale on This Day of the Week — Here's Why
If you're in the market to sell your home, you might be surprised to learn that the day you choose to list can have a major impact on the speed of sale and the offer you receive. Learn More: Find Out: You can probably guess which days are better than others, but do you know why? To help you understand an important aspect of this sizeable sale, GOBankingRates reached out to industry experts who provided insights on the worst (and the best) days to list a house. According to Zillow research, houses listed on a Sunday sat on the market longer than those listed on 'better' days. Experts don't like Mondays either. 'In my opinion, Mondays are the absolute worst day to list a house,' said Jeremy Smith, ace real estate advisor with Engel & Volkers in Atlanta. 'Why? Because everyone's just trying to survive Monday! People are catching up from the weekend, drowning in emails and settling back into their routines — house hunting is the last thing on their minds. If you list on a Monday, your property risks getting buried in the shuffle before buyers are even paying attention, which can quietly rack up days on the market.' For You: 'And Sunday?' Smith asked. 'Meh. People are winding down with family, brunch or Netflix. They may browse Zillow in bed that night, but they're not scheduling tours.' Surprisingly, Saturday gets little love as well, according to Todd Stephenson, co-founder of a company that connects homeowners with local roofing companies. 'The WORST DAY to list a home is actually Saturday, contrary to popular belief about Sundays or Mondays,' said Stephenson. 'Our analysis of listing patterns with partner agents reveals Saturday listings receive 23% fewer serious inquiries in their critical first 48 hours compared to midweek listings. 'The issue isn't buyer activity, since people absolutely browse homes on weekends,' he added. 'The real problem is visibility decay. When you list on Saturday, your property gets buried under the flood of new Monday listings before most buyers have finished their weekend browsing. By Tuesday, your 'new' listing already looks stale in search filters.' Advertising your house on a Thursday may enhance the likelihood that it will sell faster and for a higher price, per Zillow. All other things being equal, homes advertised on Thursdays tended to go pending more quickly than any other day of the week. Smith, for one, agrees. 'Now, if you really want your home to shine, Thursday is the magic day,' he said. 'That's when buyers start getting serious about weekend plans, lining up showings, and stalking new listings. Friday works too, but Thursday gives you that early jump.' Savvy Buyers Realty's Robert Washington and his team recognize the huge benefits of listing on a Thursday, too. 'Thursday afternoon tends to be the best time to list a home,' said the company's founder and broker. 'The tendency is that home buyers and their agents will start to plan out their showing schedule for the weekend on Friday. 'Many of the MLS client listing distributions don't send out notifications until the evening, and if you wait until Friday to list, your home may not show up until that evening and you potentially miss out getting the listing in front of buyers that are looking earlier in the day.' Every market is different, however, and you'll get different answers from experts in different states and countries. For example, My Reiderstad's Invest team operates mainly in the Southwest of Mallorca, Spain, and hypes Tuesday and Friday listings. 'Tuesday, because on Monday people usually have a long to-do list, new weeks start so they do not have the mindset to look for new houses, and Friday because it is the end of the week, people are in weekend mood, stop working earlier and have time to browse through property portals and possibly discuss them over the weekend with friends and family,' said Mallorca's premier end-to-end realtor. Not to be left out, while no expert chose Wednesday as the best day to list a home, Redfin did a few years ago. Using weak Sunday numbers as a baseline comparison, the residential real estate brokerage site found that Wednesday listings sold for the most money. Thursday listings still sold the fastest. More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 20257 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 20255 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on Don't List Your House for Sale on This Day of the Week — Here's Why
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New outdoor space for concerts and special events coming to Sussex Village Park
Sussex is set to get an improved outdoor space for concerts, special events and community gatherings. Nicholas & Associates, based in Mount Pleasant, Illinois, was awarded a $7.8 million construction contract for a new outdoor performance area and pavilion at Sussex Village Park, according to an April 1 news release. The contract also includes the construction of a new maintenance facility. Sussex Village Administrator Jeremy Smith said the current pavilion and outdoor space were built in 1986, calling the pavilion a "little metal shelter" that has "seen better days." He said the pavilion will have much improved amenities and will give the park a refreshed look. The pavilion, outdoor performance area and the maintenance facility will be located at Sussex Village Park, W244 N6100 Weaver Drive. The pavilion and outdoor performance area, which will be called The Ridge at Village Park, will feature a 10,100-square-foot freestanding pavilion, 14,500 square feet of covered outdoor space and an open-air stage area. It will also have community rooms, a kitchen, public restrooms and storage. Smith said the community will appreciate the public restrooms because the space currently has only portable toilets. He said the facility will be used for community concerts, special events and public gatherings. Smith said the covered area will be an area protected from the sun and the rain. The Sussex Parks maintenance facility will be a 10,500-square-foot building that will serve as the Sussex Parks Department's new headquarters. It will have break rooms, restrooms, a workshop and vehicle service and maintenance spaces. Construction is slated to begin for the new maintenance facility on May 1. For The Ridge at Village Park, work is set to begin after the three-day Sussex Lions Daze festival, which ends July 13. Smith said that all parts of the project are scheduled to be completed by June 12, 2026. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy. More: Indoor pickleball, a bakery and a gift shop are now open in Menomonee Falls and West Bend This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New pavilion and open-air stage planned for Sussex Village Park
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Burglar shoots and kills dog inside Midtown home
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say an intruder broke into a Midtown home Friday afternoon and shot and killed a family pet inside. The burglar kicked in the back door of the house in the 900 block of South Willett Street, just off Crump. Jeremy Smith said his five-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier named Brody likely heard the commotion, came downstairs, and was shot two times. Smith found the dog an hour later when he returned from work. 'I went to my front door. I saw my dog lying on the ground,' said Smith. 'I saw the blood on the ground, then I saw my back door was wide open.' Smith said someone moved in the direction of the security camera outside their back door. While the video doesn't show anything, you can hear the gunshots and the dog yelp. The break-in happened around 1:30 p.m. while a large construction crew was renovating a house just two doors away. 'My wife works from home on Fridays. By the grace of God, she had the urge to go to Starbucks and work from Starbucks today,' said Smith. 'Any given Friday, she would have been home around this time.' He said the burglars ransacked an office on the first floor of the home and stole a gun. Police spent the afternoon collecting evidence, but Smith said he was disappointed by MPD's response time. 'I understand the zip code we stay in isn't as fluent as Central Gardens, but Central Gardens is two streets over from us. There shouldn't be an hour-and-a-half arrival time for the police, and when someone says the house has been broken into and my dog has been shot and killed. I'm not armed, can somebody please help me secure my house.' Smith said his oldest son grew up with the dog, and he never expected anything like this to happen on his street. He said he's concerned about his family's safety and wants to know that his neighborhood is being monitored and protected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
