A
MOVE TO FIRE COUNTY MANAGER JIM WHEELESS FAILED AT
TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THE UPSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AFTER AN HOUR-LONG EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ACCORDING
TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S NOTES ON THE MINUTES—DURING OPEN
SESSION—CHAIRMAN NORMAN ALLEN—WHO HAS A POLICY OF NOT
VOTING EXCEPT TO BREAK A TIE—MADE A MOTION TO DISMISS
WHEELESS AND THE OTHER NEW COMMISSIONER JAMES ELLINGTON 2ND
THE MOTION.
THE
MOTION FAILED ON A 3-1 VOTE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLINGTON
CASTING THE ONLY VOTE TO TERMINATE WHEELESS.
COMMISSIONERS
LORENZO WILDER, RALPH ELLINGTON AND FRANK SPRAGGINS VOTED IN
SUPPORT OF COUNTY MANAGER WHEELESS.
IN
A STATEMENT RELEASED WEDNESDAY MORNING—CHAIRMAN ALLEN TOLD
ZOOM NEWS—COUNTY MANAGER WHEELESS INFORMED HIM MONDAY
AFTERNOON HE PLANNED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT
DURING TUESDAY'S MEETING.
IN
THAT EXCHANGE WHEELESS REPORTEDLY INDICATED THE TWO HAVE A
CLASH OF MANAGEMENT STYLES THAT COMPLICATES THEIR WORKING
RELATIONSHIP.
CHAIRMAN
ALLEN SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR WHEELESS WANTED TO
LEAVE—BECAUSE HE BRINGS A SKILL SET TO THE COUNTY THAT
WILL BE HARD TO REPLACE.
HOWEVER,
THE CHAIRMAN SAID HE MADE THE MOTION TO DISMISS BECAUSE
PAST EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT HIM ONCE AN INDIVIDUAL IN A
KEY LEADERSHIP POSITION EXPRESSES A DESIRE TO LEAVE AN
ORGANIZATION—IT SUFFERS GOING FOWARD.
ALLEN
SAID--SINCE HE WAS ELECTED CHAIR LAST YEAR—THERE HAS BEEN
A PERCEPTION HE WANTED WHEELESS GONE—BUT THAT'S NOT SO.
WHEELESS
WAS EXCUSED FROM THE HOUR-LONG CLOSED DOOR SESSION THAT GOT
LOUD—ACCORDING TO PERSONS ON THE OUTSIDE.
THERE
WAS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE AGENDA AND CHAIRMAN ALLEN
SAID HE W AS UNAWARE THERE WOULD BE ONE UNTIL
COMMISSIONER LORENZO WILDER ASKED FOR IT.
THE
CHAIRMAN SAID HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY WHEELESS CHANGED HIS
MIND BETWEEN THEIR MEETING MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE TUESDAY
MEETING—BUT ALLEN TOLD US HE SUGGESTED WHEELESS INFORM
ALL THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
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