Sylvan Mutschler has resigned as director of Marengo County Emergency Management Agency. His last offical day as director will be December 15, said county administrator Dawn Quinney.

He has accepted a job last week as director of admissions with Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.

Before taking the EMA position, Mutschler had experience in the medical industry since 1975.

The EMA position has considerably lower pay as compared to other county positions, he said.

Money wasn’t the only issue for the move. "What I’m seeing is a lack of support from the majority of (county) commissioners," Mutschler said. However, he appreciates the support of commissioner Ken Tucker.

For the next EMA director the commission will need to "find somebody who has the background and experience and wants to be an emergency manager. Whoever they find will be very busy. It’s getting more and more involved."

Future federal funding will be tied to a viable EMA structure in the county, he said. Mutschler has had great support from first responders in the county. "That’s the thing that disappoints me," he said. "I’m finally getting the folks turned around where they starting to want to have exercises and do things."