County manager proposes two new top-management posts

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County manager proposes two new top-management posts

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in County Government Archives, Top Stories & Breaking News

Wednesday, February 6. 2013

Comments (30)

The new manager of Barrow County’s government is recommending the restructuring of the government and the addition of two more professional-level directors.
At an all-day retreat Friday, county manager Jock Connell told the Barrow County Board of Commissioners that without such changes, he would be able to do little more than put out fires each day. He said job descriptions for two new top-level positions are being written and soon would be brought before the BOC for approval. One is for a public works director and the other for an economic development/community development director.
For the full story, see the Feb. 6 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Public Works Director on 02/06/13 at 05:25 PM [Reply]

What in the heck is the Public Works Director going to do, Barrow has no money. Are we forgetting, the County is broke, what are you going to direct with no money. Here we go again. Yearwood had his faults but at least he cut the deadwood and got the county under budget. The go along BOC will fall for it. The Manager is just doing things to make life easier for him. So we will end up being top heavy again. A lot of fat cats who want to sit back and delegate and no one extra to actually do some work, meanwhile the existing employees continue to get crapped on while ex Gwinnett takes over. DON'T DO IT BOARD - THINK HARD ON THIS ONE.

#1.1 Economic person on 02/06/13 at 06:39 PM [Reply]

The Economic development person is what the new chairlady wants. These hard economic times call for being conservative. You have to ask the question; Do we really NEED these people or is it a WANT so that the newbee's can live out their fantasy and sit back and make good money by doing not really much work at all. This is not Gwinnett County, we don't have their money- different animal altogether. Besides the Economy is far from being fixed - maybe in about 15 years. I have seen it happen in other County's. The new manager & his cronies come in screw everything up, run off all the good help and then canned themselves, all in about a 4-5 year time frame. Think about it BoC. Try to use your own brain for a change.

#2 Jane on 02/06/13 at 07:40 PM [Reply]

Where will the money come from? Will the County sell land or raise our tax.

#3 Capt. Obvious on 02/06/13 at 08:24 PM [Reply]

How much do you wann abet these jobs will be filled by associates of Mr. Connell? And once more whomever is hired will "negotiate" the top of the salary scale prior to doing a single thing for this county, just like Kisaalita and Connell did!!

#4 WHAT THE H$%& on 02/07/13 at 08:11 AM [Reply]

Well you clowns got what you voted for! The whole county manager thing was put forth on the idea of saving money! Let’s take away the power of Danny Yearwood at any cost and all will be saved. It was said by many on this site that as soon as we got a county manager he would want 2or 3 new positions under him to do his job. Now how is that working out for ya? This county and city has added new meaning to the good old boy system. Watch and see who the city council appoints to Charlie Eberharts job! I am sure that it will be a laugh when we see this appointment. Anyone want to take odds on who this will be? I have 2 of the Mayors buddies in mind on of them is on the DDA.

#4.1 coolbluerick84 on 02/07/13 at 10:44 AM [Reply]

Yes, Mike Rice and David Maynard are best friends but at least they're the only ones finally getting something accomplished in downtown. Unlike the previous mayor and the one before that who had sixteen years (4 year term) and let the town ROT. Maynard and Rice have to clean up their mess before we can move along to advanced improvement which they are cleaning up now while planning new improvements. It should have already been done little by little as the years went along and kept up with so we would not have such a mess for decent Mayors to clean up.

#4.1.1 OMG!!! on 02/07/13 at 12:01 PM [Reply]

Mike Rice and David Maynard both have gotten fairly wealthy off of the taxpayers of Barrow Co. So get off of that high horse and realize that those two have never done anything for Barrow Co. that did not benefit them.

#4.1.1.1 coolbluerick84 on 02/07/13 at 12:51 PM [Reply]

You're the one on the high horse. Everything they did get from it (if they did) they deserved. I've lived here all my life and have seen the difference of the mid ninetys and now so don't sit there and tell me there's not a HUGE diifference and they took undeserved money from the city after the previous leadership did'nt do any improvements and upkeep that the current leadership is doing in lesser time.

#4.1.1.2 Beth on 02/09/13 at 04:53 AM [Reply]

Beat, and truest post of all OMG!

#4.1.1.2.1 coolbluerick84 on 02/10/13 at 10:57 PM [Reply]

Ok omg and beth, but remember we paid people like this certain mayor who had 16 years(4 terms) and we paid him money to do the job and he did nothiing but the curent leadership is is actualy doing something and your complaining about the money the they get. Wouldn't you rather pay the person who actually WORKS! And does the job he or she is elected to do. You are always seeing the negitive points while I'm seeing the positive points.

#4.1.1.2.1.1 OMG on 02/11/13 at 11:37 AM [Reply]

Most if not all of the eyesores in downtown are owned by either Mike Rice or David Maynard. So that's kinda what we refer to as a fail.

#4.1.1.2.1.1.1 coolbluerick84 on 02/11/13 at 12:33 PM [Reply]

Mike Owns and fixed up the grey building that holds the new Open Box Electronics downtown', which he filled. He is also partial owner of the Peoples Bank building. Now what was that about Rice's run down buildings? As for Maynard some are fixed some are not so that's something he will need to work on over time. Holly Hill has pretty much reached the end of it's useable life .

#4.1.1.3 red ryder on 02/11/13 at 02:29 PM [Reply]

I'm not quite sure you really know what you are talking about. Rice gets paid $30/hr when he works for Winder. Maynard gets his mayor salary.

Now, if you have factual information, you can reveal it. But if you're just guessing and gossiping, then I suppose we won't hear any more from you.

#4.1.1.3.1 Little Jimmy on 02/11/13 at 02:41 PM [Reply]

Well Red, you must be from around here; or around the in crowd.

#4.1.1.3.2 coolbluerick84 on 02/11/13 at 04:42 PM [Reply]

Be nice Red Ryder. We're talking facts here. For doing a job money is money. They work hard and do the job, tbey deserve to be paid. You just proved what I've been saying all along. Thank you. Next news article please!

#5 Beauregard on 02/07/13 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

I certainly agree with most of these posts and I was in favor of hiring a county manager.maybe if this guy can't do the job he was hired to do then the commissioners should find someone else.
He does not need these positions at this time.

#5.1 I agree on 02/07/13 at 06:14 PM [Reply]

True. The Dept. heads have done an excellent job over the last four years without these positions, so why now. If we were Gwinett and had lots of money to get many projects done,then yes maybe these new positions. The county is adequately staffed for no more than is going on right now. Now is the time to save,save,save, not spend,spend,spend. We have not seen the bottom of these hard times. I don't see any hope that it will improve anytime in the near decade.

#5.1.1 Newbie on 02/07/13 at 10:07 PM [Reply]

The county needs professionals, not just someone thrown into a position. Ever heard of the "peter principle"?

It's obvious the county is NOT adequately staffed.

#5.1.1.1 Pro's on 02/09/13 at 04:11 PM [Reply]

Look at the pro's the County has had in the past. Pathetic. Being a professional is not a cure all.
It's been the other folks solving the problems.

#5.1.1.1.1 Atlas on 02/09/13 at 06:49 PM [Reply]

Yep, I was a pro at Barrow County. Had someone go behind my back to Danny Yearwood say that they could do my job too. They let me go. About a month later I received a call one evening at my house. They said the guy could not do my job and they wanted me to come train him. They could not pay my contracter fee of $50 an hour....and I was low balling too.

You people can take your 'normal' folks and shove em up your #@$ !!!!

#6 joe on 02/07/13 at 08:51 AM [Reply]

All GOOD managers recognize their strengths and weakness. They surround themselves with people who can fill in the gaps. Of cocourse I expect this to be lost on the majority

#6.1 Big Money - Gwinnett Mindset on 02/09/13 at 06:51 PM [Reply]

For what he's getting paid, he better not have no weaknesses. A Gwinnett mindset in Barrow just won't work. We need someone that will get in the trenches and get their hands dirty.

#6.1.1 Joe on 02/11/13 at 08:22 AM [Reply]

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Successful people realize this. They surround themselves with managers/directors who can fill in the weak spots.

Remember Yearwood thought that he had no weaknesses and could run the entire county by himself. See what/where that got us?

#7 Idiocracy on 02/07/13 at 06:36 PM [Reply]

"Without these positions I can only put out fires"
and you think these two positions will put the fires out for you. Don't think so, the fires will continue to rage. The existing employees have been the ones putting out the fires the last four years". Yearwood done a good job and he wasnt qualified according to everyone. and now we have manager with credentials and experience and a part time chairman and they can't get it done without all these new positions. something dont add up.

#8 Read the lines on 02/07/13 at 06:51 PM [Reply]

From what I gather, water and sewer need the help. If they can'd do the job, then replace the dept. directors, not hire a Public Works Director.

#9 ccd on 02/07/13 at 08:43 PM [Reply]

If Mr. Connell is unable to handle the job he was hired to do without the assistance of two new management positions, he should step down. Surely another candidate who is able to perform the job as described can be found. I voted for the county manager position but expected that the BOC would identify and hire a qualified candidate. Why can't Barrow County get it right?

#10 Beth on 02/08/13 at 03:58 PM [Reply]

I am quite sure that Danny Yearwood is laughing out loud after reading this!

#11 It won't stop with two on 02/09/13 at 06:44 PM [Reply]

If the two positions are hired, they will be stuck up snots, who won't do anything much and it won't stop there. They will demand assistants and secretaries. So two positions will turn into six at a total budget of around $350,000 a year not including benefits. They will not make the problems go away, trust me. Think back, if you can.

#12 Pat Green on 02/10/13 at 08:03 AM [Reply]

Barrow County voted for Pat Graham.No one else rn against her. I bet most voters didn't know anything about her or her background. Now after a short time there are complaints. Some are even longing for little Danny Yearwood. Citizens you amaze me. Is this how Democracy must work. Wake up and be intelligent. Don't let Barrow County be staffed top heavy with six figure professionals. Hire a manager and he will hire his buddies. It happens all the time. It happened in Jackson County and with the school system. I'm seen employees actually riding around the county in their provided cars looking for a great restaurant to eat at.

#13 Bob on 02/11/13 at 11:20 AM [Reply]

See you votes don't remember why "most" of us vote for this form of government. It was to ensure that no one used car salesman/realitor/banker or other power players could have that must power. Now if the BOC ok's this request then the results are on them in the next election.

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