Pocahontas Council Accepts Donations for Mobile Command Center

POCAHONTAS, Ark.—The Pocahontas City Council has approved donations to establish a mobile command center for the Pocahontas Fire Department, a move officials say will improve emergency response efforts. The decision came during a special meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The council unanimously voted to accept the donation of an ambulance from ProMed, as well as a drone. Both pieces of equipment will enhance the department's ability to respond swiftly and effectively throughout Randolph County.

Mayor Keith Futrell and Fire Chief Scott Baltz emphasized the importance of cost efficiency in their proposal. According to Futrell, the city’s strategy involves converting existing treasury bills into certificates of deposit to optimize returns and redirect savings toward priorities like emergency services.

"We’re going to try to take advantage of that to get a little more bang for our buck," Futrell said during the meeting.

Because the ambulance and drone are gifts, the city avoids the expense of purchasing new equipment outright. The conversion of the ProMed-donated ambulance will cost approximately $5,000, which officials confirmed falls within the fire department’s current budget. Baltz noted that the revamped ambulance will be equipped to support on-the-ground coordination during critical incidents.

"It’ll be a lot quicker for recovery of drowning victims," Baltz explained. "And it’ll be a lot safer for the personnel that are going down and looking for these folks, too. It gets closure for the families."

The mobile command center and drone are expected to improve first responders’ capabilities in adverse conditions such as rain or snow. “They’ll be able to be inside the unit coordinating efforts, whether they’re flying over fires, searching the river, or surveying a field," Baltz said. "It’s just another great tool for the city of Pocahontas."

The council's approval of the donations lays the groundwork for implementation, though an ordinance formalizing the arrangement is expected to pass in October. Once operational, the mobile unit stands to enhance response times and coordination across the department's range of missions.

Officials expressed optimism that the equipment will strengthen the department’s ability to ensure public safety while maintaining a fiscally responsible approach.