Starke County EMA Director J. Nier submitted her resignation to the Starke County Commissioners on Sunday, October 25.
During the last joint session meeting of the Starke County Council and Starke County Commissioners, they were questioning Nier about certain aspects of her work, specifically grant administration.
She was successful in helping the county’s first responders in obtaining grants in order to purchase equipment and more for hazardous material response including a refrigerated trailer, PPE supplies, and communication resources outside of grant funding sources. She was successful in helping the Sheriff’s Department get grant funding of about $150,000 to upgrade to a Computer Aided Dispatch system to create an easier way for officers to input report information and share information, and other grants during her employment.
In her three years as EMA Director, Nier said she brought in nearly $488,000 in grant funds.
However, county officials felt that she could be doing more and only showed a few thousand dollars in grants this year. She also submitted an LEPC grant for 2021 for hazmat equipment in amount just under $15,000.
They also thought she should assist with CARES Act funding, but Nier countered saying that the CARES Act funding was to be handled by the county through the Auditor’s Office. County officials believe that she should have been in charge of that, as well as a FEMA grant possibility the county.
In a resignation letter to the county, she noted that grant administration was not in her job description.
She gave Friday, November 6 as her last day in the office.
Starke County Commission President Charles Chesak confirmed that Nier submitted her resignation. More discussion will be held during the next joint meeting of the Starke County Council and Starke County Commissioners.
