(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson county Emergency Management Board voted five-to-two this (Thurs.) afternoon to terminate Tim Kinnetz as Emergency Management Coordinator effective immediately. Sheriff Greg Baloun abstained from the vote siting a potential conflict of interest.
Kinnetz will continue as 911 Director…atleast for now.
The action followed an earlier motion that would have suspended Kinnetz an additional 18 days on top of what he’s already served…for a total of 30 days. He also would have been placed on probation for a year and required to complete a drinking and driving course. That motion was defeated.
Kinnetz was suspended as Emergency Management Coordinator after being charged with public intoxication for allegedly showing up at the scene of a boating accident earlier this month drunk. Kinnetz pled guilty to the charge.
The board’s action followed a closed door hearing that went on for more than two hours.
Sheriff Greg Baloun was appointed to serve as interim Emergency Management Coordinator. Kate Whittrock will continue in her capacity as Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.
The Dickinson county 911 and Emergency Management boards will meet in a joint session at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 2nd to talk about programs, personnel, funding and the overall direction of programs. Some of the funding for the Emergency Management Coordinator position comes from the 911 board.
