SOLE FINALIST FOR UPSON COUNTY MANAGER IS OUT

UPSON COUNTY'S SOLE FINALIST FOR COUNTY MANAGER RON RABUN OF GRIFFIN IS OUT BEFORE HE WAS IN.

INTERIM COUNTY MANAGER BILLY BECKETT –POINT MAN IN THE HIRING PROCESS --TOLD ZOOM NEWS MONDAY AFTERNOON THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WERE UNABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A CONTRACT WITH MR. RABUN. MR. BECKETT SAID THERE'S NO ANIMOSITY ON THE COUNTY'S PART —NO HARD FEELINGS—THEY JUST COULDN'T COME TO TERMS.

RABUN HAS SERVED IN SEVERAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS INCLUDING COUNTY MANAGER OF LEE COUNTY, GA.

ACCORDING TO INTERIM MANAGER BECKETT—THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE VACANT POSITION OF COUNTY MANAGER AT TUESDAY'S REGULAR MEETING—BUT IT COULD BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE COUNTY RECEIVED 37 APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWED 5 CANDIDATES. GEORGIA LAW REQUIRES GOVERNMENTS TO RELEASE THE NAME OR NAMES OF CANDIDATES ONCE FINALISTS ARE SELECTED—BUT CANNOT RATIFY A CONTRACT FOR 14 DAYS AFTER THAT.

MR. BECKETT'S LAST DAY IS APRIL 19TH—BUT HE TOLD US HE IS WILLING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HELP IF ITS NEEDED BY THE COUNTY.