Tossed Out

Williford says other staff and department directors will take the reins of the environmental programs. Besides, he says, it's only been a few weeks since Sanders took over, and the new administration is still determining the best way to continue the county's green initiatives. "Judge us in six months," he says.

Bussen doubts whether county workers will be able to keep up with the environmental work. "You're going to reassign all the programs to county employees?" he says. "That would be super — if they didn't already have full-time jobs."

He argues the need for a coordinator to answer eco-questions, make sure that different departments don't shirk their responsibilities and come up with new initiatives. "You're not going to be able to throw a secretary at it and have it continue," Bussen says.

Rizzo pledges to keep a close watch on the county's environmental performance. He hopes that the elimination of Bussen's position is only temporary.

"When it comes around to budgeting next year, I'll push for a staff position to be added — as long as the money is there — because I think it's important enough that we need it," he says.

Bussen is appealing his dismissal and awaiting a hearing in April. In the meantime, with environmental issues gaining attention nationwide, local governments aren't cutting their environmental staff — they're hiring more. In the next couple of months, Johnson County is set to search for an environmental chief. Bussen says he might apply.