EMA Coordinator retires again

For the second time in two years, Union County Emergency Management Coordinator Jo Duckworth announced she will be retiring from her position, which the commission accepted during a recent EMA meeting. Duckworth will officially leave the position on July 15.

The EMA Commission met last week to discuss the next moves on Duckworth’s replacement. Alongside a review of Iowa Code, two candidates, who Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton said were interested in the position, were presented to the board prior to the official search announcement.

This isn’t the first time Duckworth has attempted to retire from the coordinator position. An attempt through 2023 and 2024 turned into a dramatic incident between coworkers. Accusations of unacceptable work behavior flew in a workplace battle between Duckworth and her then successor assistant coordinator Bonnie Castillo.

Changes in Duckworth’s personal life then led to Duckworth choosing to stay as the coordinator past her initial retirement date in July 2024. In January 2024, Duckworth’s husband Mike passed away. Duckworth said she chose to retain the job to offer herself some stability.

Following Duckworth’s choice to stay, Castillo resigned from emergency management in Union County. She now works as coordinator for Harrison County.

The commission discussed multiple requirements which candidates for the coordinator position will follow, citing Iowa Administrative Code. The code outlines how candidates should be able to demonstrate an understanding in all the fields a coordinator will be overseeing.

Other requirements include having graduated from an accredited four-year college or university and have two years of experience in emergency management or have similar experience and education. Provisions for continued education are specified.

Bolton detailed two proposals he already received for the position.

The first was Clarke County EMA Coordinator Byron Jimmerson, who Bolton called “pretty sharp.” The sheriff said it could be possible for Jimmerson to share duties with Clarke and Union County as a dual coordinator. Jimmerson had sent Bolton a deal for the position, which was handed out to the commission during the meeting.

Some confusion over the budgeting of the deal was discussed, but Bolton said the deal could save Union County $23,000 if EMA went forward with the deal. Grant money would be lost as that money would be split between Union and Clarke County, and Jimmerson would be splitting his time between the two as well.

Sharing coordinators between counties in Iowa isn’t unusual. In Southwest Iowa, Adair and Guthrie County share their coordinator. Elsewhere, Winnebago and Hancock share, as well as a four-county share between Lucas, Davis, Appanoose and Monroe counties.

Bolton described the downside of a shared position bluntly by saying Union County would not receive the full focus as a singularly-assigned coordinator. Jimmerson is also the fire chief in Osceola as well as an EMT. The sheriff’s biggest fear would be a large enough disaster which would affect both Creston and Osceola.

Duckworth gave her perspective on the sharing.

“Clarke County and Union County do things in different ways,” Duckworth said. “That’s just the way it is. We deal with different hazards.”

Jen Worisek, citing her EMT background, described how Clarke County tends to avoid crossing county lines when responding to emergencies, something which can come in conflict with the sharing agreement. Worisek clarified she didn’t think this was Jimmerson’s fault, but said it could still create problems.

“If something happens here, and [Jimmerson] calls for his ambulance crews to come help us, what are we going to get?” Worisek said.

Mayor Waylon Clayton gave worries about a 28E agreement, which he said would not be cheap for the county.

Another option for the position would be Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer.

Duckworth noted Ver Meer has taken classes for emergency management, and Bolton noted how Ver Meer said he could work part-time, which the sheriff said could be “good or bad.” Ver Meer is also familiar with the communications systems in Union County.

EMA will still advertise the position, opening requests for applications. A preference will be shown to applicants who reside close to Creston, where the Union County EMA is based. Interviews and more decisions over the direction EMA in Union County will go will be discussed in future meetings.