By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Interim Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers was appointed Monday night to fill the position permanently.
The position is being combined with the director of fire and emergency management, which Myers has held for the last six years. He has served as the interim county administrator for the last 16 months.
Myers said the commission will consider at its next meeting making the emergency management director into a separate position.
“Honestly, my heart has always been in the fire service and public safety,” Myers said in a news release issued after Monday's county commission meeting. “However, in the last 16 months I have come to know our staff and county better. I have seen what they are capable of, and know they are passionate about making Ellis County a great place to live, work and call home.
"Last year we made some significant changes and improvements to our finances, and we now have the ability to complete some significant projects, which will enhance our future here in Ellis County.
"I am excited about this dual position and opportunity to continue doing something I love with the fire service. I will strive to do everything I can to make our county a better community for everyone.”
Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said at the meeting he thought Myers was very qualified.
"I think he is a great fit for the county," he said. "I think he has done a wonderful job on the fire side. I think that is his true love, but I think his other true love is leadership in Ellis County.
"He is going to be with us for a long time. I am excited to have him on board finally. Instead of that interim name, we can throw it away and actually call you a county administrator."
Commissioner Neal Younger said he did not think that the county could ask for anyone better.
"We've got ourselves a good employee, a good administrator," he said.
Commission Chairman Butch Schlyer said he has demonstrated his knowledge and abilities.
"He has a genuine interest in and a concern for Ellis County, and I know we could not find that genuine person with that kind of interest in any administrator candidate we would have looked for.
"Darin, he is the right fit for the county at this point in time."
Commission Chairman Butch Schlyer added in the news release, “Darin has stepped up and shown his abilities over the last year and a half.
"He helped secure new revenues in the sales tax, has worked on the northwest business corridor project, helped lead the county through the COVID-19 pandemic, and helped the county save hundreds of thousands of dollars in identifying changes to employees health insurance costs.
"Staff has expressed their support for Darin, and they are excited for this transition.”
Myers is a lifelong resident of Ellis County. He and his wife Kelly live in Hays and have three boys, Jordin, Jace and Jentry, who all attend school in Hays.
Myers has spent more than 20 years working in the public sector with experience in managing budgets and projects, strategic planning initiatives, building relationships, and strongly believes in employee professional development, the press release said.
Myers is an U.S. Army veteran with a tour of duty in the Middle East in 2003.
He is a business management graduate of Fort Hays State University and has a master’s degree in public administration from Anna Maria College in Massachusetts. He completed the certified public manager program at the University of Kansas, as well as the executive fire officer program at the National Fire Academy in Maryland.
CORRECTED, 10:45 a.m. Tuesday to reflect correct title in photo caption. Hays Post apologizes for the error.