County EMS director resigns
y SUSAN COOPER
Staff writer
Following a 10-minute executive session Monday between Marion County Commission and Marion County Emergency Medical Services Director Larry Larsen, Larsen turned to the newspaper media and made the following statement.
"I effectively and immediately resign my position
Larsen, of Peabody, then thanked county residents for their support, and the commission for working with him and for the people of Marion County.
With that, Larsen exited the commission room. No other comment was made by the commission.
Larsen took over as head of the department in January after Darryl Thiesen was fired in December.
Resignations and terminations of department heads is an all too familiar sight with the county commission.
Since the change of leadership with commissioners Dan Holub and Randy Dallke taking office in January 2005, there have been seven changes in department heads with some retiring.
It all began in October 2005, when noxious weed director Bill Smithhart was the first to go. David Brazil resigned in May 2006, as sanitarian, zoning administrator, and transfer station director.
Thiesen then followed in December 2006.
Dale Snelling, lake superintendent, retired in April, followed by the retirement of department for elderly director Noreen Weems in May.
Jim Herzet resigned in June as public works director.
The commission and county staff have spent many hours poring over applications and resumes, and setting up and conducting interviews with candidates.
The commission did not announce any plans for filling the open EMS director's position.
