Public works director and assistant resign; commission says transition and staffing will be prioritized

The county's public works director told commissioners he submitted a formal letter of resignation with an effective date of August 28, 2025, and said he is assembling a handover notebook and contact list to aid his successor. The director also announced earlier in the meeting that an assistant, Dustin Hall, has resigned; Hall has served more than 10 years, county staff said.

Why it matters: Public works is the county department that maintains roads, culverts, quarries and right-of-way work. Departures at senior operations levels are operationally significant because institutional knowledge, emergency-response procedures and contractor relationships are often concentrated in those positions.

What the director said: In a written and spoken statement he said he will support a smooth transfer of duties, compile documentation and provide contact lists. The resignation letter included a specified effective date: Thursday, 08/28/2025. The assistant's resignation was announced without an effective date specified in the public transcript.

Commissioner reaction and next steps: Commissioners said they were concerned about the operational impacts and the timing of the resignations. The commission asked staff to prioritize transition planning, document handoffs and discuss recruitment options. Commissioners indicated they expect staff to present transition and staffing recommendations to the commission promptly.

Ending: County staff will accept the director's resignation letter, begin a documented transition plan and return to the commission with staffing and recruitment options. The director said he will prepare a handover notebook and help with transfers prior to his departure.