By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com

The board accepted Ronzzo's resignation Tuesday after he submitted it last week, effective March 31. In a letter to the board filed March 3, Ronzzo wrote that his decision stemmed from a disagreement with the board over whether he should have a second job.

"I cannot and will not deal with the stress that this situation has created," Ronzzo wrote.

Ronzzo said Wednesday he's become concerned over the past few months about the toll the conflict has put on his already poor health.

He said he's agreed to work for the Ord Police Department, but the hiring has not been formally completed.

Ronzzo said he expected police work to be less stressful because he would not have to work with the county board.

Concerns arose over the past several months among some supervisors about Ronzzo's work as a part-time deputy in neighboring counties.

Those concerns flared up at a tense January board meeting when supervisors brought up those other jobs. He offered to resign at one point but backed off later in the meeting.

Ronzzo said he helps out any nearby county that needs a deputy and hasn't let the work interfere with his duties as sheriff.

"Your own time is your own time," Ronzzo said of his time off work. "And you can do whatever you want to do on your own time."

County board Chairman Bob Sevenker said the law allowed Ronzzo to hold other jobs as long as his department was run smoothly, but he believed it was inappropriate for an elected official.

"It was a concern on our part, but yet it wasn't something we had any control over," Sevenker said.

Supervisor George Baker said he felt Ronzzo did a good job during his tenure and said the sheriff was leaving with no hard feelings from most of the board.

Baker said he, too, was worried about the stress Ronzzo was facing.

"I really think it was a good move on his part," he said of Ronzzo's resignation.

Ronzzo was elected sheriff in 2002, about a month after Dan Journey resigned from the position. He was re-elected in 2006.

He had previously worked as an Ord police officer and the county's chief sheriff's deputy.

Both Sevenker and Baker credited Ronzzo with improving an unstable department upon taking office.

In his letter, Ronzzo pointed out that accomplishment as well.

"When I began, this office was in a state of chaos," he wrote. "I know that I have put things back on track and made money for the county's general fund."

Chief Deputy Gary Walker has agreed to serve as interim sheriff but does not want the job permanently, Sevenker said. Walker also stepped in as interim sheriff after Journey's departure.

Sevenker said the board is taking applications for the position until March 31, when the board will meet to consider applicants. He hopes to have a new sheriff working by the end of April.