Stability predicted with permanent hire

IOWA CITY – The board that oversees Johnson County's joint emergency communications center is prepared to lift the “interim” tag off the title of person who runs the facility.

The board is scheduled to vote June 22 to appoint Tom Jones executive director of the center, which is home to the dispatchers and operates the radio system used by public safety and emergency medical personnel in the county.

Jones had been the center's associate director and IT manager before being named interim executive director in March following the abrupt resignation of Gary Albrecht from the head job for unspecified reasons.

Jones also served in the interim role before Albrecht's hiring in January 2011. Albrecht had replaced Mike Sullivan, who resigned after being arrested for drunken driving.

The changes in leadership and fights with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors over the center's budget have created some tumult since the facility opened two years ago.

John Lundell, chairman of the center's seven-member policy board, said Jones' hiring would bring stability.

“We have great confidence in Tom, and he has shown an interest in staying and continuing to lead the center,” said Lundell, who also is a Coralville City Council member.

He declined to say what Jones' salary would be because the full board had not yet discussed it. The board includes representatives from Johnson County, Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty and the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency.

Albrecht was being paid $79,825 annually. Sullivan made $82,514 a year.