Scott County commissioners hold emergency meeting to consider interim 911 director

Scott County Board of Commissioners met in an emergency session Aug. 25 to address a potential disruption of government services in the county 911 department and to consider naming an interim director.

A commissioner opened the meeting saying, "This is an emergency meeting for the purpose of addressing the threatened disruption of government services with the 9 1 1 department," and said the board needed an interim director while the county fills the post full time.

The board discussed a candidate identified in the meeting as Will Lovens. A commissioner said, "We have had a person apply for the position that, has experience at doing that. Used to work here as a assistant director under Jeff Fortner, and then worked as a interim director after, Jeff Fortner. His name is Will Lovens." Commissioners described Lovens as experienced and able to work with county departments.

One commissioner expressed concern that appointing Lovens immediately would circumvent the ongoing application process and that internal staff already assigned to the department could step up. That commissioner said the county has been "in the process since May to fill the director role" and objected to awarding the position outside the process.

Commissioners thanked Lucy Ritchie for overseeing 911 operations during the transition; one commissioner said, "She's done an outstanding job, over the weekend, continues to do a great job." The transcript records an administrative question about drug testing for candidates and who approves those tests; a speaker asked whether those approvals remain with Lucy Ritchie.

A commissioner also said, "There's no such thing as a part time director position. So you need to send that to the council to even get it funded," indicating the board would need the county council to authorize or fund a part‑time director classification before someone could start in that role. The board noted that reclassifying or creating a funded part‑time position could delay any start date; the next meeting referenced in the transcript is Sept. 9.

A motion to appoint Will Lovens as a part‑time interim director was made and was seconded. One commissioner explicitly stated they would vote no. The transcript does not record a completed roll-call vote, tally, or final outcome of the motion.

Meeting participants discussed that, if appointed, the interim director could name an assistant to help fill the role. No budget amount, contract language, or start date for an appointment is recorded in the transcript.

The transcript captures discussion and disagreement about process and timing but does not show a formal decision or a recorded vote on the appointment.

Looking ahead, commissioners said the council must act to fund or reclassify a part‑time director position before an interim hire could be placed formally, and the next regular meeting mentioned in the session was Sept. 9.