Budget savings after Health Department, Emergency Management will be merged into other departments

On Friday, Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes announced transitions among several appointed department head positions. These changes will impact five County departments.

Public Works: Interim Public Works Director Curt Hoffman will return to his former position as County Road and Bridge Supervisor. Hoffman assumed the role of Interim Director in June 2015 due to the illness of prior Director Mike Graf.

“I was happy to step in and assist the County and our department during this trying time,” said Hoffman. “I’m even happier to be returning to a position that will allow me to spend more time in the field. The Interim Director position has been a learning experience, and one thing I’ve learned is that I’m happiest when I’m not stuck behind a desk.”

Due to Hoffman’s transition back to his former role, County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Ring will serve as Public Works Director.

“I look forward to taking on this new challenge,” Ring said. “While I have not previously worked on road and bridge projects, I have always had a good relationship with Public Works in my emergency manager role.”

Prior to moving to Ellis County, Ring had a successful career as a small business owner in the automotive parts industry. He has a degree in economics from St. Louis University.

Emergency Management/Rural Fire: As Ring moves to Public Works, the Emergency Management Department will be merged with the County’s Rural Fire Department.

“I’ve worked closely with Rural Fire during my entire tenure, and we share administrative staff,” Ring said.

Rural Fire Director Darin Myers will take on this combined role.

“This makes a lot of sense,” Myers said. “As a career firefighter I am intimately familiar with the Incident Command Structure and the importance of preparedness. I look forward to building on the work Bill has done to keep Ellis County residents, businesses and visitors safe.”

Health/EMS: Longtime Ellis County Health Administrator Robert “Butch” Schlyer has announced his intention to retire from county service at the end of the calendar year. County Emergency Medical Services Director Kerry McCue will assume a combined role directing both departments.

“Although I will have a learning curve in public health, this transition makes sense,” McCue said. “Three other Kansas counties have already gone this route, and I am personally excited about the chance to continue learning and growing in my career with Ellis County.”

Announcement of the move at this time will allow for a nice transition period.

“One of the things I most wanted as I prepare for my retirement was the opportunity for overlap with my successor,” Schlyer said. “I am pleased to be able to work with Kerry and have a smooth transition for both of our staffs.”

County Commission Chairman Dean Haselhorst praised the moves.

“I am very happy and thankful to our department heads for stepping up and taking on new roles,” said Haselhorst. “Ellis County faces some trying financial times, and this display of creativity on the part of our department heads is exactly the kind of thing we need to help us get through this.”

Haselhorst went on to specifically praise Hoffman’s role over the past year: “Curt and the other staff at Public Works really stepped up when we needed them. I would’ve like to have seen him stay on, but I certainly understand that office work is not for everyone. All I can do is thank him.”

All the transitions are expected to occur gradually over the next several months. For payroll purposes, new roles for Hoffman and Ring are anticipated to be effective Monday, June 6, and McCue will begin the transition period on June 20. Myers’ new role is pending adoption of a new job description by the Board of County Commissioners. The combination of functions is estimated to save Ellis County nearly $100,000 in fiscal year 2017.