By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Board of Commissioners have fired their 911 manager and his supervisor.
The reason for the terminations are linked, but also included non-disclosure agreements signed with both men, Commission Chair Bill Schulte said today.
Schulte said only: “We felt there was some changes needed at 911.”
The Lewis County E911-Communications Division is responsible for providing and maintaining the communications center which serves as the primary answering point for all 911 calls placed in the county. The center dispatches calls for all local police, fire and emergency medical services.
Craig Larsen has been the 911 manager since Michael Strozyk moved out of the role and was promoted to director of central services for the county.
Strozyk oversaw facilities, information technology services, the Southwest Washington Fair and the 911 center. He reported to the three-member board of county commissioners.
Schulte said both were terminated yesterday morning.
While he would not discuss the reason, he said the move followed a meeting the commissioners had last week with a half dozen leaders of fire and police agencies in Lewis County.
“It was nothing we hadn’t heard before,” he said. “What surprised me was how strongly they felt.”
The commissioners appointed Lewis County Budget Administrator Steve Walton yesterday to serve as the interim director of central services.
Today, county personnel were drafting a contract with a Chehalis area man to work as the interim 911 manager, he said.
For now, Walton is in charge of the 911 center, according to Schulte.
“None of the dispatchers have been terminated, and I’m not aware of any who are going to resign,” he said. “The day-to-day operations are all in the hands of qualified people.”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I am not familiar with Mr. Walton. I will have to see how he performs in this capacity before I form an opinion.
Having Steve Walton as director is like putting the name Sterling on Silver. It just does not get any better than him.
Interesting point Ridge and very correct.
There should never be a “Non disclosure” rule in public employment. The Public, the people that pay the salaries have a right to know. From now on, do not agree to any “Non Disclosure” rule when hiring someone. If you do, you are representing yourselves, not the people of Lewis County.
That is really too bad it breaks my heart to hear this. Craig Larsen is a really good guy and he worked very hard at what he did. He put a lot of effort into what he did. I will miss you Craig.
Now Michael Strozyk on the other hand they couldn’t have fired a day sooner.