MOVE FAILS TO FIRE UPSON COUNTY MANAGER

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.