Teller County Appoints New Emergency Manager

~ by Rick Langenberg ~

Teller County has finally picked a new director to head its office of emergency management, a position that has remained unfilled since September.

Also, the commissioners have enthusiastically signaled the green light for a comprehensive fire protection plan for the Cripple Creek area, adding another chapter to the county’s overall wildfire prevention effort.

During a commissioners meeting, officials announced the selection of Don Angell, who most recently served with the Arizona Department of Transportation for several years, to the position as director of Teller’s Emergency Management Office.  He will officially begin his duties on Feb 25. He is expected to be introduced to the public at the next board meeting, set for Feb. 28

Prior to moving to Arizona, Angell sported much experience in Colorado, heading the emergency management operations in Montrose County and doing considerable consulting in the private sector, according to his resume.

In addition, he served as a fire chief for a well-known fire protection district that represented the Golden area for a extended period. Teller’s new emergency manager, according to officials, wanted to move back to Colorado, a key incentive for Angell to take the position.

Teller officials and leaders have cited his extensive experience in the emergency management arena. This is a department that has gained more distinction, in lieu of the frequent disasters that now strike the area.

Angell will fill the shoes of former emergency manager Steve Steed, who ran the agency for a little more than eight years. Steed actually turned the office into a full-fledged departmen, and emphasized the importance of implementing coordinated emergency plans among local agencies. Steed held the reins of the office during some significant natural disasters and oversaw a number of fire bans and restrictions.

Like Angell, Steed offered considerable experience in the field, working under the administration of former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.  

Prior to Steed’s reign, Teller County didn’t really have an emergency management office. Since September, county administrator Sheryl Decker has filled the role as the acting director of the emergency management office.