The Starke County Commissioners talked about the Emergency Management Agency position at their meeting Monday night. J. Nier resigned as director on October 25.
During the last joint session of the Starke County Council and Commissioners, Nier was told she was underperforming as grant administrator for the county, which is part of the duties county officials say she agreed to when she was hired three years ago.
The county officials 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 that would have benefited the Sheriff’s Department.
A week after the joint session, Nier submitted her two week notice to the county, with her last day in the office to be November 6. In a resignation letter, she stated that grant administration was not in her job description.
During Monday night’s Starke County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Kathy Norem said Nier made comments in her letter that were not true concerning her grant administrator role, and her focus and responsibilities as director of the Emergency Management Agency. As a result, Norem said she told Nier to leave the office October 26. That office is now vacant.
The commissioners did agree to pay Nier for the two weeks that she was to be in the office through November 6.
The commissioners and council members will soon hold a discussion on the future of the position, whether it will be part-time or full-time. It was noted that the Emergency Management Agency Board members would need to find a replacement when they come to a decision on the matter.
