A good start at the ESD

After a marathon executive session by the Johnson County ESD commissioners last night, Executive Director Joey Reed resigned his position effective December 17th. This is a good start. After a series of failings by this organization and an overwhelming vote of no confidence by the county fire chiefs it is time for a change at the top.

Now what? I hope the ESD board will act quickly in searching for a quality replacement for Mr. Reed. The candidate need not come from the fire service, in my opinion. They should be looking through the same pool of applicants who are looking for a city manager position. I wrote previously that we need a director that has experience running a government entity. They would have excellent people skills, know the governing law, work closely with staff to produce budgets and financial projections and be able to provide accurate and timely information to the tax payers and board of directors who should be charged less with micro-managing oversight and more with long-term direction supervision of the organization.


So where will the necessary fire service experience come from?  Number two.  A second position should be added. Call it "Director of Operations" or something similar, but this position is where the Executive Director can get the input required to make good policy recommendations to the board.  That will also allow the county fire chiefs to work with someone who is not in a position of "my way or the highway".


December 31st should bring another significant change to the Emergency Services District.  That's when Johnson County Precinct 2 Commissioner, John Matthews, should replace his ESD board appointee, Glen Reue and Precinct 3 Commissioner, Jerry Stringer, should replace Keith Kelly.  Mr. Kelly has served as ESD board Treasurer through a term of serious financial failings and Mr. Reue has presided over it all in the top board position.  It's time for them to go too.


A.J.