Former county employee concerned about commission
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission has been criticized lately for numerous turnovers of county personnel — particularly department heads.
Is it a witch hunt? Are department heads being targeted?
"There's no witch hunt," Randy Dallke, commssion chairman said.
He agrees that there has been considerable turnover, but justifiably.
Unfortunately for constituents, personnel matters are confidential. So when an employee resigns or is terminated, regardless if that employee works for a government entity or private enterprise, information about that person's employment and eventual separation from his employer cannot be divulged to the public.
So, what are the reasons for the apparent revolving door of county department heads?
Some department heads resigned to return to greener pastures at their former home stomping grounds, Dallke said, others retired because it was their time.
Dallke could not comment on specific employees but made it clear that the commission does not take any of these terminations lightly.
"The commission and department heads have to be on the same page and work together," he said. Even if the commission and department heads do not see eye to eye, they can agree to disagree — to a certain extent.
Dallke said there have been times when the commission has been willing to try different options and has accepted changes as deemed necessary and reasonable.
"The commission's job is to give direction to department heads," Dallke said, with those directions being taxpayer-driven.
"Taxpayers have a right to express their views," Dallke said. He realizes that the commission cannot do everything every taxpayer asks but should consider requests within reason.
For Larry Larsen, who recently resigned under duress as county emergency medical services director, he's concerned about the future of Marion County.
"Where are we now? Where are we going?" are the questions Larsen has for the commission.
A petition was signed by 300 people from the Peabody area to have Larsen reinstated. Even though Larsen technically resigned, he said he was given the choice by the commission to either resign or be fired.
"I'm concerned about the commission not being available to constituents," Larsen said, citing instances when some of the commissioners wouldn't take calls from county residents following Larsen's ordeal.
Larsen said he was told by the commission that crew chiefs were against Larsen which was one of the reasons for his dismissal.
"I have not seen that," Larsen said. "I think Mr. Dallke wants a director who sits behind a desk, eight hours a day."
Larsen said he was criticized by the commission for taking too much on-call time in Peabody instead of coming in to the office. Larsen explained that there were times when there wasn't anyone available to take on-call except him, so he decided to work on county business from his home and be on-call.
"There's too much micro-managing (from the commission)," he said.
Putting his personal experience aside and taking his emotions out of play, Larsen said other county employees are concerned about being fired.
Dallke was asked if he agreed.
"Employees have to answer to the department heads," Dallke said. "If department heads are doing their jobs, they don't have anything to worry about."
Larsen said he and others are concerned about the county being able to attract qualified employees, including those who currently work for the county and may consider applying for a step up.
"Some who considered applying for new positions want to be guaranteed they can return to their old positions because they're afraid they may not last if given the promotion," he said.
Larsen has some bitterness toward the commission because he believes the members lied to him.
"The commission promised not to appoint a new director until I had my say," Larsen said, but the commission appointed a new director a week before Larsen's scheduled time on the commission's agenda.
Larsen said he and his wife, Karen, were at the courthouse and in the hallway by the commission room Aug. 13 for their appointment with the commission at 10 a.m.
"Ten o'clock came and Randy (Dallke) asked if there was anyone here to address this issue (referring to Larry Larsen). We could hear a 'no' in the commission room and they went on," Larsen said.
After a while, the Larsens decided they weren't going to be given an opportunity to address the commission so Larry Larsen went to the EMS office to pick up some supplies.
Karen Larsen also is bitter about the treatment of her husband and others who volunteer for the county.
"I have given 15 years of my life to this county to make sure the ambulance is staffed," Karen Larsen said, "with no thanks from the county commission."
"We came forward because we're wondering, 'Who's next?'" Larsen asked.
Other micro-managing issues that Larsen said made his job difficult was being told to keep the office door open.
"We were concerned about privacy concerns," Larsen said, "so we decided it would be best to keep the door closed."
In the end, Larsen said he just wants the county to improve its reputation in attracting new employees.
"Who in their right minds would want to come to Marion County to work if they ask 'How is life in Marion County? Do I really want to go there?'" Larsen asked. "I'm afraid we're going to lose people. The county is getting a horrible reputation."
So, would Larsen consider working for the county?
"In the beginning, I would have gone back in a heartbeat," Larsen said, "but two commissioners don't like me or respond to me and other constituents."
Larsen said he has no animosity toward new EMS director Steve Smith but has concerns about his longevity.
When Larsen first resigned from the county, the family put its house up for sale but took it off the market when residents came forward and asked them to stay.
"We care about the county and want what's best for it," Larsen said.
Dallke said he considers this commission to be a "hands on" commission with more interaction and accountability with department heads.
"I like to know and want to know what's happening," Dallke said. "I welcome calls from county residents. I'm in the phone book. I'm not trying to hide."
