Floyd County Manager, Blaine Williams, at work on Dec. 3, 2012. (AJ Pierce/RN-T)
“It will be about the same process we did this same time last year,” Commission Chairman Irwin Bagwell said. “We’ll appoint an interim manager to take over and start the search.”
The board’s regular session is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 11.
Williams — who took over Floyd County’s top slot on Jan. 1 — said he’ll work through the end of the year and take a week off before starting in Athens on Jan. 7, 2013.
He’ll be one of two assistant managers for the consolidated government of Athens-Clarke County, which has 1,573 employees and a general fund budget of $104 million. Floyd County has about 650 employees and a $43 million budget.
“They’re doing some neat things over there,” Williams said. “It’s a very progressive community and government.”
A “green” fire station and a government-backed arts center were two initiatives he mentioned, but another draw is Alan Reddish, the Athens-Clarke manager.
“He’s been in that position since they consolidated in 2000 and he’s very well-respected,” Williams said. “I mean he’s right up there with (Rome City Manager) John Bennett. I have a lot to learn from him.”
Including a 7.5 percent deferred contribution, Williams was netting about $106,000 a year in Floyd and was part of the pension plan. In Athens-Clarke, he’ll have a base salary of $109,000 and his choice of either a 10-percent deferred contribution or participation in the pension plan.
Bagwell said Williams has served the county well and will be missed.
“He considers it a step up in his career and I wish him all the best,” he said.
Williams hired on as Floyd’s assistant county manager in April 2007 and served as interim county manager after the Dec. 2, 2011, departure of Kevin Poe.
The board named him as Poe’s permanent replacement after a nationwide search that drew 21 applications.
Noah Simon, the former community development director for Fortney, Texas, replaced Williams as assistant county manager on March 26.
In Athens-Clarke, Williams will hold the title of assistant manager for transportation and community services, overseeing the departments of planning, building permits and inspections, human and economic development, transportation and public works, public utilities, transit, airport and solid waste.
Every year since 2005, Floyd County has operated in a deficit, spending more money than it takes in. As a result, the rainy day fund is down by almost $8M, and we have borrowed $12M to stay afloat. Employees are unhappy due to no pay increases and ever rising health care premiums. The RN-T just yesterday wrote about all of the deferred maintenance and equipment failures in the Public Works Department. Police cars with 200K miles, roads that haven't been repaired or paved, and the list goes on. But the ones responsible for this financial mess, are all happily rewarded by being re-elected. Who could blame Blaine for jumping ship. Why else would he leave a job as Manager to step back and become Assistant Manager for basically the same pay? It's Floyd County's loss and things are only going to get uglier.
The comments are not the fault of the newspaper. People get bored in between their trips to Dollar General.
Sad that our town is going to lose such a talented, hard working, and truly dedicated individual.
Embarrassed that comments like some of these are allowed to be posted.