Emergency management to expand to full-time role in Steele County

Steele County will soon have a full-time emergency management director.
The County Board has approved turning the part-time position into full time after the upcoming retirement of current director Mike Johnson. For years, Johnson has split his time between the county’s emergency management and as chief for Owatonna Fire Department.
Johnson’s last day with the county will be May 28. He is also stepping down as fire chief.
The county is currently looking for Johnson’s replacement and hopes to have someone in place by the time Johnson leaves.
As part of the new role, the director will have additional safety and insurance responsibilities, according to Scott Golberg, county administrator. The county’s Human Resource department is currently handling those duties. He said the county is “doing the bare minimum to meet the requirements of OSHA.”
Golberg said state law requires counties to have an emergency management director, which provides leadership in four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
“It has grown significantly in need and importance over the past 15 years,” Golberg said of the emergency management position. He said there have been more emergencies and natural disasters to handle within the county in recent years.
Golberg also said the city has been in need of a full-time chief dedicated to fire work.
In addition to a full-time director, the county will also continue with two part-time deputy directors to assist with emergency management.
Golberg credited Johnson with doing the best he could with working part time, but admits the county missed out on certain needs by having such an arrangement.
For example, with the most recent pandemic, the county has not been up to speed on continuity of operations, Golberg said. “Mike helped us, but not to the extent of what we needed.”
Golberg said he is convinced emergency management cannot be done effectively in a part-time role.
Johnson’s current salary with the county is $46,671 per year. Golberg said having a full-time director will run between $74,000 and $95,000 per year.
The new director will be a direct report to Golberg and the county board.