LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners has created a new position to take away the need for the hiring of a second assistant county manager.
The general services manager will oversee Emergency Management, Emergency Services, Planning and Inspections. In the past, the top administrator overseeing administration of these departments was one of the county’s two assistant managers.
County Manager Ricky Harris said Wednesday that the new position was created by “restructuring” the county’s current personnel chart. The position is not being advertised, but instead is being filled in-house, Harris said.
He said money for the position, which has a starting salary of $70,100, is coming out of funds in the current fiscal year budget originally designated for two assistant managers.
Last Monday, the commissioners approved the hiring of Lumberton resident Jason J. King as an assistant manager.
The 39-year-old King has more than 10 years of finance and management experience. A native of Columbus County, he is currently a project manager with the Department of the Army and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a master’s degree in public administration from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Harris said King, who begins his new job Monday, will start at a salary of $79,424.
Charles Britt, the county’s fire marshal and director of emergency services, had held the assistant manager’s position on an interim basis since Rod Jenkins resigned in June 2011 to become deputy director of human services for the Cumberland County Health Department.
The county in the past has had two assistant managers, but there has been only one since Harris became the county ’s interim manager in November 2010. He was named permanent county manager in June 2012.
Harris said the open position for the new general services manager has been posted, and he expects several county employees to apply for the position. He said he hopes to bring the name of his recommendation for the job before the county commissioners at either their April 15 or May 6 meeting.
We don't have a photograph of Mr. King b/c the camera malfunctioned. We plan to do a story on him when time allows.
Donnie Douglas
Editor
The Robesonian
The story was assigned last week. Thanks for your interest.
Donnie Douglas
Editor