The Associated Press

RED WING, Minn. — The longtime emergency management director in Goodhue County will soon take on that role for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Goodhue County board members accepted Gary Fried's resignation Tuesday.

Fried's last day in the county will be Dec. 8 and, assuming he passes a standard background check, he will take over Dec. 10 at the job that had been occupied by Sonia Pitt.

She was fired last year after being accused of misusing taxpayer dollars and improper travel. She remained in Washington, D.C., immediately after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.

Fried worked for MnDOT before taking a job in Goodhue County in 1986. In his new role, he will handle statewide disaster preparation, response and mitigation.

His interim replacement in Goodhue County will be Diane Richter-Biwer, who recently received her state emergency management certification.