Terese Amazi is no longer Mower County's emergency management director.

Wayne Madson is.

The Mower County Board of Commissioners approved the change Tuesday.

Amazi, the Mower County Sheriff, was given the job by her predecessor, former Sheriff Barry J. Simonson before he retired.

She campaigned, in part, on her experiences for the job, including emergency management duties.

Amazi also has received special training in the area of emergency management.

Now, she has voluntarily given up the responsibilities, said Ray Tucker, 2nd District county commissioner and chairman of the personnel committee.

The new county emergency management director will be Madson, the county's veterans services officer.

Mason's pay increases to $48,265 and Amazi's decreases to $64,704.

The changes are effective retroactive to Monday, Tucker said.

All five county commissioners' voted to approve the personnel committee recommendation.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners agreed with the finance committee's recommendation to delay the proposed purchase of a new end loader for the county highway department.

The end loader would have been used in the new highway department shop at Adams.

However, funding uncertainties due to the state budget deficit have put both the Adams highway department building and the end loader purchase "on hold."

"In no way does this mean we are giving up on the idea of a new hop building at Adams, we just can't do anything about it now," Tucker said.

Also Tuesday, the county board took care of the bookmobile funds.

Mower County owned the bookmobile which visited out-county communities and rural areas to deliver books and provide other library services.

Then, the bookmobile service was discontinued and the vehicle sold.

The city and the county have been arguing over their respective shares of the proceeds from the vehicle sale.

Now, there is $100,766 to distribute.

According to the county board finance committee, the distribution will be a "one time" action.

The Austin Public Library will receive $60,852 and other libraries in the county will receive $39,813.

The LeRoy Public Library will receive a total of $11,087; Brownsdale Public Library, $10,188; Grand Meadow Public Library, $10,492; and Lyle Public Library, $8,145.

The amounts include a flat allocation plus a percentage based on the 2002 funding formula.

The money can go to capital improvements and/or operating needs.

The debate between the Austin Public Library and the count and other libraries in Mower County even reached the State Auditor's Office, which made a ruling on the funds.

The county commissioners showed their frustration over the matter.

The distribution of funds was unanimously approved by all five county board members.

However, Oscarson reminded the commissioners they must still decide a new funding formula for next year's library funds.

Southeast Minnesota Libraries Cooperating bought the bookmobile and continues to make five stops in Mower County.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com