MONTICELLO – As Piatt County continues to wrestle to seek out candidates for his vacant put up as director of the Emergency Administration Company, it has employed a brand new interim director.

Monticello Police Chief John Carter will assume appearing duties, changing Piatt County Sheriff David Hunt, who resigned appearing final week.

Hunt declined to touch upon the rationale for his resignation, which allegedly happened between a County Council EMA committee assembly on April 27 and a second assembly on April 30, when Carter was employed.

The sheriff – who’s retiring in that capability additionally in July – has been appearing director of the EMA since December. At the moment, he was changing Mike Holmes, who was on sick depart and laid off in January.

In February, Holmes filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to the county, alleging violations of the household medical depart legislation when his place was diminished from full-time to part-time initially of the brand new fiscal yr in December. He was a part of the FMLA on the time the funds was accredited.

Holmes has since amended the grievance, additionally saying that $ 292,000 in state grants obtained between 2007 and 2018 for EMA functions was not allotted to this division.

Though he didn’t give particulars of his resignation, Hunt mentioned after the April 30 committee assembly that the lawsuit in opposition to the county was not the rationale he was resigning.

Hunt has been working to realize full certifications for the county’s EMA division, a few of that are due Could 15. EMA committee chairman Shannon Carroll mentioned there have been solely “very small changes” left for them to be accredited by state officers.

“So thanks, Sheriff, ”Carroll mentioned on the April 30 committee assembly.

County board chairman Ray Spencer additionally thanked Hunt for his assist in shutting down the county on EMA certifications.

“A lot credit score to Sheriff Hunt for getting us to the purpose line, ”mentioned Spencer.

Carter can be paid the identical that Hunt obtained as an interim: about $ 1,300 per 30 days.

“Something I can do to assist our group, I will be able to do it, ”Carter mentioned.

He has some expertise working with officers from the city of Monticello on emergency plans. Carter additionally has coaching in firefighters and ambulances, along with police.

Third set of bulletins

The county is within the midst of a 3rd spherical of promoting for the EMA director put up, which is marketed as “part-time” after being full-time final yr. Holmes obtained $ 37,740, however the county solely budgeted $ 16,000 for 2020-21. The place had been part-time previously.

Hunt advised the committee on April 27 that he believes the job warrants a couple of part-time worker.

“As I mentioned earlier than, it is a full time place. It is a bit like police work – you put together for the worst. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes paperwork to be completed. There’s coaching that the IMEA wants, ”mentioned Hunt.

“In the event you’re part-time, how do you do the work right here within the workplace and Zoom conferences and calls? Then when one thing occurs – some form of catastrophe – does that individual solely work half time? “

Two individuals who had initially utilized for the put up of director of the EMA ultimately stepped down. A 3rd that surfaced in a second spherical of commercials appreciated the thought of ​​halftime, however Spencer mentioned the plaintiff estimated it might take full-time hours for no less than the primary 4 to 6 months.

The place is marketed for the third time. A job description is posted on the county’s web site, piattcounty.gov.