(KLZA) Richardson County Commissioners unanimously approved reappointing Jim Gerweck as Richardson County Emergency Management Agency Director and Ralph Huettner as Veteran’s Service Officer for another year when they met Tuesday.
Board members continued to try and work out a solution to a debate between Gerweck and Sheriff Randy Houser over problems with communications for the Sheriff’s Department when working in the Humboldt area.  The radio problems in that area have been ongoing for a number of years.
Gerweck said he and Deputy Director Roger Goos have been working on the issue the past couple of weeks and with their radios the system works o.k.   Gerweck suggested to the Board that training may be needed.  ( play audio :17 seconds )
Goos, told Commissioners training is important and that he felt criticism of Gerweck was unjust.  ( play audio :58 seconds )
Commission Chairman David Sickel relayed to Sheriff Houser who met with the Board later he had heard from people that training would help solve the problems.  Sheriff Houser responded.  ( play audio :32 seconds )
Sickel and the Sheriff also had this exchange. ( play audio :30 seconds)
Sheriff Houser provided an example of problems that can be caused by unreliable radio communications.   ( play audio :41 seconds )
Commissioner Jim Davidson suggested that rather than have Gerweck tell the Board one thing and Houser another,  a ride-along by the Board may be a good idea.  ( play audio :21 seconds )   A time for this will be organized.
Gerweck has been removed from controlling the radio communications for Richardson County which will leave the entities to organize their own needs.  Sheriff Houser wants the radio antenna at Humboldt moved to the top of the water tower and plans to take steps in that direction.  Also to be looked at is a repeater put at Rulo instead of using one in Holt County, Missouri that is currently used.
Gerweck’s reappointment as Emergency Management Director was challenged by Sheriff Houser two weeks ago.  When accepting reappointment Tuesday, Gerweck told Commissioners that while he accepted the position, after 30 years, it is time to get a plan in place to replace him.  ( play audio  :29 seconds )
Later in the meeting members of the Veteran’s Service Committee met with Commissioners.  They suggested Ralph Huettner be reappointed for another year but suggested that options be looked at for the future.