craigdailypress.com

Just as the Moffat County Sheriff's Office replaced its emergency management officer, one county commissioner is questioning whether the position should be moved from that office.

The sheriff hired Deputy Larry Dalton to replace Clyde Anderson, who resigned in August. Dalton has worked in law enforcement for years, and he signed up for a grant- writing class as soon he took the job, Undersheriff Jerry Hoberg said.

The emergency management coordinator applies for grants, makes sure emergency plans are in effect and facilitates training, among other duties, Hoberg said.

But Commissioner Marianna Raftopoulos is questioning whether an emergency management department should be created and placed directly under the supervision of the commissioners. Currently, the emergency management coordinator is an employee of the sheriff.

"The problem is we don't have direct oversight ... and the coordination and collaboration isn't there," Raftopoulos said.

Under the commissioners, Raftopoulos said emergency management would have a broader focus. She voiced concern that the emergency manager doesn't work with the hazardous materials team.

But several years ago, at the urging of former emergency manager Clyde Anderson, the sheriff asked the commissioners if they would want to create an emergency manager department, Hoberg said.

Routt County has an emergency management department, and Rio Blanco County's emergency manager works in the Sheriff's Office, Hoberg said. In Moffat County, the emergency manager has worked in the Sheriff's Office since the position was created.

But the commissioners weren't willing to create the department at that time, because the sheriff wanted a deputy to replace the emergency manager, Raftopoulos said.

Commissioner Darryl Steele questioned whether emergency managers should be required to have particular qualifications, but he didn't voice support for the move. The commissioners have to delegate responsibility among county officials, he said.

"Are we as this board better qualified to make emergency management decisions?" Steele asked. "The sheriff should be more qualified to make emergency decisions, because he makes emergency decisions on a regular basis."