Anniston Star
March 14, 2003

Burney resigns as director of Calhoun County EMA

By Nathan Solheim and Jason Landers
Star Staff Writers
03-14-2003

Mike Burney, Calhoun County's leading emergency management official, resigned unexpectedly Thursday.

Burney, executive director of the county Emergency Management Agency, tendered his resignation to the Calhoun County Commission with little explanation.

For the last three years, Burney has spearheaded the county's effort to prepare for a chemical weapons disaster at the Anniston Army Depot. More than 2,200 tons of aging nerve and blister agent are stored there, awaiting destruction by fire.

of Burney's resignation reached county commissioners around 8 a.m, when Burney informed them about it by telephone.

He also wrote a letter of resignation, dated March 14. It says Burney is leaving for the sake of his health and the well-being of his family.

"The overall stress of this position has become unmanageable and I want to pursue other opportunities," Burney wrote.

Reached for comment by telephone following the meeting, Burney had little to add. "I resigned this morning for personal reasons," Burney said in a cracked voice. He served three years as the agency's executive director and 10 years as its communication director.

Commissioners offered no further explanation for the sudden departure, except to say Burney resigned of his own volition. Some suggested that the possibility of litigation prevented them from commenting on the matter.

Commissioners pledged the move would have little effect on the Emergency Management Agency or efforts to prepare for a chemical weapons incident.
DeLois Champ was named interim director of the agency.

"Things are going to operate normally," Commissioner Robert Downing said. "I don't expect the county EMA to have any problems adjusting to the new leadership. Delois Champ has always done an outstanding job."

Champ previously oversaw the county's participation in the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Plan.

"The staff we have at the EMA is a dedicated staff and a well-trained staff," Champ said. "Things will move along, you will not see a glitch."

Commissioners are planning to open up a search for Burney's replacement, although Calhoun County Commission Chairman James A. "Pappy" Dunn could not predict when a replacement will be hired.

"It's going to call for a little organizing on our part, this was unexpected," Dunn said. "It'll take a little time to go through the process of advertising for the position and interviewing applicants."

Champ has worked at the EMA ten years, and served as a public information officer for much of that time.

Recently, Champ was recognized by the commission for her work on negotiating the contract for the Citizen's Protection Program with Centech, Inc.