Scott County emergency management director resigns to spend more time with children

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County is looking for a new emergency management director.

Scott County commissioners confirmed during their regular meeting Tuesday that Amber Scudder, emergency management director, has verbally advised them she is resigning.

"We haven't got her official resignation letter," Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said Scudder indicated the resignation becomes effective Aug. 31.

Scudder confirmed her resignation and the effective date when contacted later for comment.

"My reason is to stay home more with my family," she explained, "so I can be there for my kids while they're little."

Scudder said she was happy with the working conditions and had a good working relationship with commissioners.

"They were great to me -- I couldn't have asked for better people to work for," she said. "I will certainly miss the excitement of the job and the relationships I established when I stepped into the position in January."

In addition to being the county's emergency management director, Scudder is also the county's addressing specialist for mapping and flood plain administrator.

Burger said "the duties may be adjusted somewhat" for the person hired to replace Scudder.

Duties associated with the addressing specialist and flood plain administrator titles are very important to the county, he said, but finding someone to fill the emergency management director position is the top priority.

"They are worth their weight in gold when you have a emergency like the flood," Ziegenhorn said. "They play such an important part in the county when you have a disaster such as we just went through."

In other news, Dennis Dukes, project specialist in Scott County for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said he is impressed with the county's documentation for damage and disaster response for the spring flooding.

"You are the best applicant I've ever had," Dukes said to commissioners.

Dukes, who is an engineer in Texas, said he has worked as a contractor for FEMA on and off for about seven years now "when FEMA needs the extra help."

"The ice storm (in January 2009) helped us out with this to know a few things about how things work with FEMA," Ziegenhorn said. "Keeping a good diary is the best thing you can do for government."

County officials, Dukes said, have receipts and mileage documentation for everything he's needed so far.

"I've never had that before," he said. "It probably cut my time in half to complete my work for you guys. It gets the money to you guys faster."

"It's easier for us and a whole lot easier for you," Ziegenhorn said.

Dukes said he is about 25-30 percent through the process of writing cost estimates for projects in Scott County.

"This learning experience will help us in the future," Ziegenhorn said but quickly added that he hopes there are no more disasters in the future for Scott County.

"I hope we never have to do this again," he said.

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO