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Lyon County searching for new emergency manager after VanOverbeke retirement

MARSHALL — From training for industrial emergencies to working with government agencies in the aftermath of a natural disaster, there’s a lot that an emergency manager can do for Lyon County. After talking over the county’s needs and resources, Lyon County commissioners decided they will keep the emergency manager position full-time, as they take new applicants for it.

Lyon County Emergency Manager Tammy VanOverbeke retired earlier this month, and on Tuesday Sheriff Eric Wallen approached county commissioners about filling the position again.

“We’re requesting to have an emergency manager,” Wallen said. He was also requesting that the position remain a full-time one. An emergency manager working part time might be able to do tasks like applying for disaster aid or funding, but it might not leave much time to organize training and emergency preparedness efforts in the county.

“It’s something you really need a full- time person to handle,” Wallen said. Plus, he said, limiting the position to part- or three-quarter time could limit the pool of new applicants.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office currently oversees the emergency manager position. Wallen said the department currently receives a $23,000 grant with a local match, which “does cover a fair portion of wages for that person.”

County commissioners debated whether or not to keep the emergency manager position at full time, as well as other details of the job.

“Who would oversee this person, especially if we’re bringing in somebody new?” asked Commissioner Gary Crowley.

County Administrator Loren Stomberg said other Minnesota counties handle emergency management in a lot of different ways. The positions could be full or part time. Emergency management often falls under the supervision of a sheriff’s department, but it could also be under the county administrator’s office, or be a separate county department.

“I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong answer,” Stomberg said.

Commissioner Charlie Sanow said there were definite reasons to have a full-time emergency manager. If Lyon County were to share an emergency manager with a neighboring county, it would be hard to figure out how to divide their time if both counties were affected by a natural disaster like flooding, he said. Lyon County is also home to training resources like the MERIT Center, and some large industries that could benefit from working with the county on emergency preparedness.

“There’s enough stuff to keep this person busy,” said Commissioner Rick Anderson.

Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of advertising for a full-time county emergency manager. Commissioner Steve Ritter cast the vote against.

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