Residents praise county emergency manager as commissioners weigh contract and reporting expectations

Residents and emergency responders told the Buffalo County Commission that the county’s emergency management services have been vital during recent fires and accidents, while commissioners said they want clearer, written reporting tied to any ongoing contract.

A fire department member who identified himself as the department’s chief praised the emergency manager’s on-scene coordination and grant work, saying, "Owen's been a great resource to the fire department," and noting the manager had "programmed" radios and helped with multi-department responses. Multiple commissioners and volunteers highlighted that the emergency manager has responded to big incidents, coordinated interagency back burns and mutual aid, and led Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) notifications.

Commissioners probed the extent of the emergency manager’s deliverables and reporting. The county emergency manager, who spoke during the meeting, said he provides quarterly reports and that staff could request additional documentation: "If you want something from me, let me know. I will get that." Commissioners asked for a written summary they could review before deciding on contract renewal and possible edits.

The meeting included discussion of the emergency-management contract terms and the annual update requirements for related emergency plans, including the Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) and hazard-mitigation planning. Staff noted plan updates occur annually and that District 3 and FEMA-based processes feed into the county plans. Commissioners asked the county attorney and auditor to locate the contract and bring a draft for review; no final decision to renew or cancel the contract was made at the session.

The commission’s conversation emphasized continuity: multiple speakers urged retaining the existing emergency-notification and mutual-aid arrangements given their perceived operational benefits. The meeting closed the topic with an agreement to request written reports and revisit the contract at a future meeting.