County’s Emergency Management handed to DeSmet

Lyon County has a new full-time Emergency Manager.  On Tuesday, the board voted to hire Dan DeSmet, pending a successful background check.

DeSmet, who has been the Director of the North Memorial Ambulance Service in Marshall, is taking over the position formerly held by Tammy VanOverbeke, who retired from her position. DeSmet will be hired at a pay rate of $25.48 per hour. He will start his new duties on Feb. 10.

The county’s emergency management director is in charge of the all-hazard mitigation plan, severe weather awareness and the CodeRed community notification program.

“Dan has all the requirements to be an Emergency Manager/Director, and all that is required is that he keeps his licenses ongoing,” said Sheriff Eric Wallen. The emergency director’s office comes under the auspices of Sheriff Wallen.

“I’ve been around Dan for a number of years and I think he’ll do an excellent job,” said Commissioner Steve Ritter.

IN OTHER action the board:

•Approved an application for a grant for voting equipment to replace assistive voting devices and to purchase additional e-pollbooks (poll pads). A grant program allows up to a 75 percent match for the equipment. The Minnesota Secretary of State administers the program. Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg will apply for grant money for the new equipment.  •Approved a resolution with the state of Minnesota Department of Transportation for overhead lighting of intersections on Highway 23. The new lights will be installed when the highway is resurfaced in 2020. The state pays for the initial materials and installation, and the county agrees to pay for power and maintenance of the luminaries. Knockdowns and structure maintenance is the responsibility of the MnDOT.

•Approved Greater Minnesota Landfill Cleanup Rebates to be distributed to partnering counties annually to be used for their recycling and waste reduction programs. The amount is based on tons received from the County of Origin, and is paid out at a rate of $4 per ton to the county of origin. All included counties have a current agreement with Lyon County for solid waste disposal. The counties include: Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Rock, Yellow Medicine and Redwood-Renville Regional Solid Waste Authority. The total amount of tons from these sites is 47,163.29 tons per year with a disbursement of funds of $235,816.45, according to Environmental Director Roger Schroeder.

Sheriff Eric Wallen

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