Oran man chosen as Scott County's emergency management director

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County has a new emergency management director.

The decision to hire Patrick Young of Oran, Mo., to the position was made Thursday, County Commissioners said during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said commissioners held off on announcing their choice as a courtesy to other applicants so they could inform them by letter that the position was filled.

"It was a tough decision because we had a lot of qualified people that applied," Ziegenhorn said. "We had a lot of good applicants."

Young started working for the county Monday, according to County Clerk Rita Milam.

The resignation of the current emergency management director, Amber Scudder, becomes effective at the end of the month, Ziegenhorn said, "so we feel there will be a lot of on-the-job training."

"I'm excited. I'm looking forward to the challenge," Young said. "I'm looking forward to learning a lot because I have a lot to learn but I feel like I'm working for some good people on the Commission and, most of all, the people of Scott County."

"We're glad you're on board. It's very important to have somebody that is willing to jump into that job," Ziegenhorn said. "We've already had two disasters in recent years: the ice storm and the flood."

In other discussion during Tuesday's meeting, sales tax received by the county for the year so far is up as compared with last year at this time, according to Ziegenhorn.

"That's a good sign," he said.

Ziegenhorn said that as several youth sport tournaments were held in Sikeston, Mo., recently, he expects next month's receipts to be up as well.

"There were a lot of folks in town, and they were all spending money," he said. "I think we've got good numbers coming."

Ziegenhorn said those receipts will hopefully also be followed by another good month with visitors here for the annual Sikeston Jaycees Bootheel Rodeo.