York County dissolves agreement with Seward County for emergency management

YORK – Upon the retirement of Gary Peterson, longtime emergency manager for York and Seward County, both counties had to decide if they wanted to continue sharing an emergency manager or having one of their own.

​Both counties decided to have their own emergency manager.
The interlocal agreement between the two counties had a clause saying there would be a 90-day waiting period before the agreement could be dissolved – but because both counties didn’t want to wait, in order to start the search for a new emergency manager, they created a new resolution to dissolve the interlocal.
York County Attorney Gary Olson and Seward County Attorney Wendy Elston worked together on the wording of the resolution to dissolve.
“And the Seward County Commissioners are considering this today, right now, as well,” pointed out Commissioner Randy Obermier. “This waives the otherwise 90-day wait to sever.”
“I believe we have the current job description and will need to review it in order to get that out there,” said Commissioner Chairman Daniel Grotz. “I know there was some talk about getting input from folks in the emergency response sector.”
“In the form of a hiring committee?” asked Commissioner Andy Bowman.
“Yes,” Grotz responded.
“And we also need to look at the job description,” Bowman added.
Obermier said he and Peterson went through the York County emergency management inventory the week prior. “And I think you are right about looking at the job description. Meanwhile, Gary’s last day was last Friday. And it was neat because many emergency management directors from around the state came here to give him a plaque. I also thanked him for his service.”
The commissioners voted yes ton the resolution to resolve the agreement with Seward County, which now allows York County to move forward in the search for a new emergency manager.