RINGGOLD, Ga. – Catoosa County commissioners will offer a man from Peachtree City, Ga., the interim county manager position.
Four of the commissioners voted during a special meeting Monday to give the job to Billy Beckett, should he accept the offer. Commissioner Bobby Winters was absent from the meeting because of a medical appointment.
The Association County Commissioners of Georgia suggested to Catoosa County Chairman Keith Greene that the local government temporarily hire Beckett. A veteran of managing municipal governments since 1978, Beckett is semi-retired. He now travels to different cities and counties in Georgia when they need short-term replacements.
Greene said he could not comment on how much money the county will offer Beckett while the commissioners are still negotiating a deal with him. The county might also have to pay for his housing, as Peachtree City is about 130 miles south of Ringgold.
If he accepts the offer, Beckett will replace Mike Helton, who will work his last shift as county manager today. Helton, who has been the county’s administrator since 2007, is joining the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office as a detective.
Beckett first interviewed for the Catoosa County job during a June 17 meeting. But the commissioners chose not to vote on him at the time because Commissioner Jim Cutler was absent.
On Monday, the commissioners decided to vote for Beckett after meeting in executive session for 12 minutes.
“He has a lot of knowledge,” Greene said. “I believe he would add quite a bit to the county as having seen multiple operations. He will also assist us in our search for a permanent county manager.”
If Beckett takes the job, Greene said he would expect him to begin after the commission approves the contract at its next meeting on July 7. But, because Helton is stepping down today, the commissioners might call a special meeting to approve the hire sooner than that.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.
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