Douglas County commissioners voiced displeasure Wednesday about the City of Lawrence’s intent to recruit and hire the next chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical with no input from county staff.
Talks continue between Douglas County and City of Lawrence staff revisiting the interlocal agreement that lays out the funding structure for the department. So it came as a surprise that the city was now planning to hire that department’s leader with no county representation, Commission Chair Michelle Derusseau said.
“I just find it very shortsighted, irresponsible and contrary to the spirit of cooperation that we’re sitting here working on this interlocal agreement and it sounds like (the city has) already made the decision,” Derusseau said. “… (The department provides) the services for all of the medical throughout the county, and I think it’s really important that we have somebody at the table that represents the people who live outside of the city of Lawrence.”