(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County 911 Commission Wednesday voted three-to-two to combine the positions of 911 Coordinator and Emergency Management Coordinator. Committee Chairman Doug Nelson and committee member Virgil Wahlman cast the dissenting votes.
Following considerable discussion, a motion was then made, seconded and approved to hire Jerry Smith on a temporary basis to update the 911 data base contingent on Smith accepting the job once he’s had a chance to look it over.
The 911 Coordinator position had been held by Tim Kinnetz.
Wednesday’s vote came on the heels of last week’s meeting of the Dickinson County Emergency Management Commission which voted to terminate Kinnetz as Emergency Management Coordinator effective immediately. The action stemmed from Kinnetz being charged with public intoxication after showing up drunk last month at the scene of a boating accident. He pleaded guilty to the charge the next day.
Kinnetz expressed his disappointment over the 911 Commission’s action…saying he’s being ousted from everything he’s put so much time into. Kinnetz added he’s grateful to those who have supported him during this time.
Wednesday’s meeting was originally intended as a joint meeting with the Emergency Management Commission. But due to a mix-up in dates on the agenda, the Emergency Management part of the meeting had to be scratched and re-scheduled. It will now be held at 1:00 p.m. July 7th in the supervisor’s room at the Dickinson county courthouse. Another meeting of the 911 Commission will immediately follow that session.
