Paula Phillips resigned Tuesday afternoon as the Douglas County Emergency Management director.
County Administrator Craig Weinaug on Wednesday confirmed that she had resigned. He declined to discuss the circumstances of the resignation.
Phillips couldn't be reached for comment.
Weinaug said he asked Teri Smith to be the acting director of the department. Smith had been assistant director. Weinaug also said he asked Jim Denney, director of the Emergency Communications Department to work with the Emergency Management in a supervisory role and to start the process of "figuring out what needs to be done next."
Phillips became emergency management's assistant coordinator on Sept. 27, 1989. She was promoted to director on Nov. 30, 1991.
Comments
Ditchdoctorems 9 years, 7 months ago
Paula I'm so sorry to see you go. I always enjoyed working with you and we all know how politics work. Someone in power doesn't like you or the way you work it will only be a matter of time before they oust you. Good Luck
Alia Ahmed 9 years, 7 months ago
Paula has done an outstanding job and will be missed.
Jean1183 9 years, 7 months ago
Agreed, Logan72.
Tychoman 9 years, 7 months ago
Paula you were great. You did a bang-up job.
Jayhawk69 9 years, 7 months ago
This is very sad. Big loss for our community. The old saying "everyone is replaceable" is not true in this case. She will be a tough act to follow and she leaves big shoes to fill. Congrats to Paula for a job well done. You'll be snatched up in no time but another organization lucky enough to have you. Godspeed Paula! You are one class act. Thanks for watching our back over the years!
NoOneSpecial 9 years, 7 months ago
I don't understand what happened. Paula was great at her job. She will be missed by everyone in emergency services. Did the county force her to resign? Why?
Charles L Bloss Jr 9 years, 7 months ago
I don't know, but there is something in the woodpile that ought not to be there. I don't think she left on her own. Thank you, Lynn
dthroat 9 years, 7 months ago
Paula,
I personally will miss you and so will eveyone else. I thought you were great.
I don't know all the inside stuff, but know this was NOT your choise. Very sad to see this happen this way as you deserved much better.
Wish you had a chance to tell your story, but I am sure the Co. Admin. (Craig/Paula) have made certain that won't happen.
GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES.
George_Braziller 9 years, 7 months ago
Uhhh. . . . I attended a six hour planning session last summer with her for coordinating community services during a disaster in Douglas County. The reps from the the County, the City of Lawrence, dispatch, Lawrence fire department, Douglas County Sheriff's office, police department, the list goes on -- not one of them had anything good to say. It was all said off record, but she was viewed by all the departments as completely incompetent.
Tychoman 9 years, 7 months ago
Pogo, every county has an Emergency Management coordinator. And by the way, they do a lot more for the community than what you think. If you DID think about it.
Feel free to give evidence how she was underqualified, void of concepts or ideas and surrounded by yes-people.
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