Staffers want emergency training

Planning and zoning staff members requested more emergency medical training and an evacuation plan of county commissioners at Tuesday's Crow Wing County Board meeting.

The requests came after a March 31 incident when a planning and zoning inspection supervisor collapsed in the office. That was followed by the arrest of a man who made threats to staff members. Law enforcement from Brainerd and the county responded within minutes to a panic alarm but staff members were concerned they were not able to dial 911 at the time.

The county is still looking at the 911 call issue but believe it may have been hampered by a staff member forgetting to dial "9" first to reach the emergency number.

Commissioners Terry Sluss and John Ferrari met with staff members Monday for a debriefing. The board received staff recommendations in a letter Tuesday.

Dennis Myers, county enforcement officer, thanked Sluss and Peter Herlofsky Jr., county administrator, for arriving on the scene March 31 and talking with staff members.

Commissioners examined a new flow chart for the department that has both Myers and Bonnie Finnerty, county planner, reporting to Herlofsky and staying in communication with each other. Sluss said he considered it one department with two functions in planning and operations. Commissioner Dewey Tautges said it met his goal to have a "go-to guy" in Myers.

RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.