Custer County hires Eric Silone as emergency management director; board sets $70,000 start

The Custer County Board of Commissioners voted June 24 to hire a new director for the Office of Emergency Management and set a $70,000 starting salary.

The board moved and approved hiring “candidate D” after interviewing four finalists. The board later announced the selected candidate by name: Bob Smith identified the hire as Eric Silone, describing him as a veteran and a helicopter pilot with emergency and risk‑management experience.

County officials said candidate D was energetic, able to learn role nuances quickly and could be trained for local needs. Commissioners discussed residency and local involvement as important qualifications; one member said a finalist who would not relocate was not the right fit because the role requires being present in the community.

The board also discussed the county's pay range for the post during the same session. A commissioner recommended a $70,000 starting salary within the range presented to the board; the motion to set that starting amount was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Bob Smith, speaking after the vote, described the new hire's qualifications: he said Silone is a veteran who —he's a pilot and helicopter pilot—and has experience in emergency situations and fire mitigation. The board noted the candidate would consult with family about a firm start date; officials expected follow‑up this week to finalize the offer and start timing.

The appointment follows a public hiring process in which commissioners interviewed four candidates. The board instructed HR to complete offer paperwork and to proceed with onboarding steps once the candidate's acceptance and wage details were finalized.

The county did not provide an exact start date; officials said the candidate needed time to consult with family before confirming. The board also discussed training and certificate needs for the position and affirmed the role is full time.