First Posted: 1/28/2015
LIMA — Russ Decker, director of the Allen County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will tender his resignation to the Allen County commissioners Thursday.
After 17 years as the director, Decker said he is moving onto the next level by accepting the position as deputy director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
Decker said the Ohio EMA approached him with the position in December and the county has unofficially known about his resignation since, Commissioner Jay Begg said.
Communication, cooperation and collaboration have prepared Decker for the state level, he said. In Allen County, Decker said he worked with other county EMA directors throughout Ohio.
He will also understand the local needs of each community at the state level, as he’s been with Allen County for 17 years.
It is up to the commissioners to appoint the county’s next EMA director, which could take roughly a month, Begg said. The agency’s assistant director, Steve Harvey, along with others will step up into Decker’s role until his position is filled.
The position is based out of Columbus, but Decker said he and his wife have no plans to relocate.
“They’re not making me sell the horse farm,” Decker said jokingly of his home in Allen County.
The Ohio EMA’s role is to support county agencies in times of crisis or other needs, he said, offering their resources if needed.
The Ohio EMA is currently working on an initiative to open four regional offices throughout Ohio, one in each quadrant, Decker said. “I’ll be tasked with getting those regional offices up and running, supporting the counties,” as well as collaborating with the Ohio Department of Public Safety to kick start a new program called, “4/72” that provides services within four hours of an incident and can sustain the asset for a total of 72 hours in the area.
Decker said the Ohio EMA is tasked with not only getting the project off the ground, but overseeing the project as well.
Decker was earning $60,000 each year in Allen County and will increase his salary to $80,000 with the Ohio EMA. His last day in Allen County is Feb. 6 and will begin his new role Feb. 9.
“We’ll certainly miss Russ, but I think the state will gain someone who will hit the ground running,” Begg said.
