GAINESVILLE – The Hall County Commission meeting Thursday was a time of expressing appreciation for a job-well-done as commissioners thanked County Administrator Randy Knighton for his service.
“Monday afternoon Randy submitted his letter of resignation,” Commission Chairman Richard Higgins began, “and we’re really going to miss him.”
“He feels like there’s an opportunity for him to move on and we just wish him luck and are thankful for the years he spent here with us,” Higgins added.
Knighton is leaving Hall County to take the position of City Manager in Stockbridge. Stockbridge is in Henry County and has a population slightly smaller than Gainesville.
While Knighton’s last official day as County Administrator will be Friday, September 1st, he pledged to be available as needed to assure a smooth change in leadership.
“Mr. Chairman,” Commissioner Scott Gibbs said, “I’d like to make a motion to name Jock Connell as our Interim County (Administrator).”
Connell was approved unanimously and is no stranger to being Hall County’s Interim County Administrator. He held the same post in 2011, during the days that led into Knighton being named for the job permanently in July of that year.
Connell filled the roughly six-month gap between the sudden resignation of Administrator Charlie Nix and the eventual naming of Knighton, a Senior Planner in the Hall County Planning Department at that time.
“I certainly have enjoyed my tenure here in Hall County,” said Knighton who first came to the county in 2002. “It has been an absolute joy for me and I’m sure that Jock will do a great job as the Interim County Administrator.”
“I will certainly support him even beyond next Friday; he certainly can call on me anytime,” Knighton added.
Knighton gave special thanks and recognition to Assistant County Administrator Marty Nix. “He has worked tirelessly for this county for thirty-plus years.”
“Stockbridge is very, very lucky,” Commissioner Jeff Stowe added.
Chairman Higgins said a reception for Knighton would be held September7th.
SPLOST VII AHEAD OF EXPECTATIONS
The second year of the seventh edition of the Hall County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax ended with the revenue generator doing better than predicted.
Purchasing Manager Tim Sims gave commissioners an update on the status of SPLOST VII, saying, “We are happy to report that it is healthy and alive and above projections.”
SPLOST VII projections call for nearly $158-million to be generated for capital improvement projects in the county and across its various municipalities.
Sims said of the consultant that helped Hall County assemble SPLOST VII, “He had projected over the course of the first 24-months to collect $58.5-million; we’ve actually collected $60.5-million.”
The five-year term, one-cent sales tax was approved by nearly 64-percent of the voters in 2014. The tax took effect July 1, 2015.
