Creston Police Chief named EMA coordinator

In a special meeting of the Union County Emergency Management Commission on Wednesday, Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer was selected to be the county’s EMA coordinator.

Ver Meer will be replacing Jo Duckworth, who will retire from the position July 15. Wednesday marked the first EMA meeting where she was not in attendance as coordinator. She will also assist Ver Meer with his transition into the coordinator position.

After interviews performed during the first week of July, Ver Meer was selected out of a pool of four interviewed candidates.

Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton said the interview process was fruitful with many qualified candidates.

“I was really encouraged,” Bolton said. “We had some really good candidates this time. It’s encouraging to have that many good people to choose from. Each one of them had good qualities. Everybody had concerns, but we were very lucky to pull that many good applicants.”

During the interviews, the hiring committee did not discuss their views on each candidate after their interview. The committee, after all interviews ended, ranked the applicants. Ver Meer was selected unanimously as the strongest candidate for the coordinator role.

“He’s got a lot of years in public safety,” Bolton said. “He’s got an extensive record.”

Ver Meer’s background as police chief has given him extensive knowledge of Union County and professional relationships to thrive, according to Bolton. EMA’s radio tower system and Ver Meer’s experience working with it was also considered a positive boon.

Mayor Waylon Clayton agreed with Bolton on how Ver Meer has worked with the police department to handle their budget, commenting on his work being “very good.” Clayton also said Ver Meer’s previous experiences with emergency management in Union County made him the best choice.

“That man has earned my respect,” Clayton said. “I think he’s, after the interview, everyone knew who shined in that interview process.”

Bolton recalled Ver Meer’s entrance into Creston’s law enforcement as chief during a time when the previous chief had been arrested.

“He’s really turned that department around,” Bolton said. “He’s restored public trust, he’s restored the department, keeping guys and brought it through training. He did a good job, and I kind of forgot those things before the interview.”

Reaching out to fire departments in Creston and Afton and talking to the fire chiefs of each city, Bolton said he was encouraged hearing they agreed Ver Meer was the best fit for the position.

During a disaster when a strong coordinator is needed most, Bolton was confident Ver Meer would be the best fit.

“When it comes right down to it, if a tornado rips through this town on July 30, I have no doubt in my mind he can control it,” Bolton said. “He can command the scene. He can take care of things and everything would run smooth.”

Ver Meer is already in the process of retiring as chief. With a commitment to Union County through the coordinator position, Ver Meer can also assist with the transition period between chiefs in Creston.

During the interview process, Ver Meer also committed to his position as police chief in Creston until a replacement has been selected, delaying when he could adopt the coordinator role.

The amount of hours Ver Meer will work was up for debate, with the budgeted 40 hours a week of scheduled work possibly being lowered with Ver Meer’s entrance into the agency. Bolton suggested 32 hours a week could be a useful trial period, with the adoption of the lower hours saving the county $14,000 a year.

Union County Supervisor Dennis Brown has been witness to Ver Meer’s actions as police chief during two tornados and was impressed by his actions.

“He inspires confidence,” Brown said. “Day one, he can go. In 30, 60, 90 days, he’ll be really good, but he’s good right now.”

Ver Meer will be asked to be in attendance for the next EMA meeting, scheduled next week for July 16.