Michael Melton to serve as interim county manager
Press Release March 24, 2022PRESS RELEASE
Michael Melton
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners has announced that Michael Melton will serve as Interim County Manager effective March 28, 2022 – upon the resignation of Joey Cason, who had served as County Manager since September 2021.
Mr. Melton had previously served as County Manager from 2012-2020, prior to his retirement in May 2020. He will serve in this interim role as the Board of Commissioners conduct a search to fill the County Manager position on a permanent basis.
Chairman Travis Turner said, “as the Board continues our search for a full-time county manager, the Board has asked Mike to act as Interim Manager on a short-term basis. The board wants to see our citizens served with the best customer service and Mike’s working knowledge will help keep business moving forward. I appreciate Mike’s willingness to return to serve our citizens on an interim basis.”
White County Manager Cason resigns
News March 21, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –White County Manager Joey Cason has resigned his position after less than one year on the job.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said, “We are disappointed to have received Joey Cason’s resignation over the weekend. While Joey was with us for only a short period of time, we appreciate Joey’s accomplishments for White County community and pray the best for him and his wife Sheila going forward.”
It marks the second time in less than a year that a county manager has resigned. Former White County Manager Jason Cobb tendered his resignation in May 2021 to pursue a business opportunity in the private sector.
Commissioners approve County Manager contract
Business August 25, 2021
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – The White County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an employment contract with Joey Cason, the new county manager during Tuesday’s called meeting.
Cason will begin work Sept. 20. His compensation package includes an annual salary of $112,000 with a review at the end of six months, three weeks’ vacation, up to $5,000 in moving expense, participation in the county employees’ benefit program and a county-owned vehicle.
Cason previously served as executive director of the Camden County Public Service Authority.
“For me, this is a kind of dream come true,” said Cason whose father served as a city manager and county administrator. In 1997, he said he set a goal of becoming a county administrator.
The county has been awarded close to $12 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, (ARPA), half of which was received in May with the remainder due in May 2022. Commissioners voted to designate the funding to construction of a multi-use facility to be constructed at Mt. Yonah Preserve.
The facility will be used to support public health mass care in preparation for future hazards or pandemics that have been identified in the county’s emergency plan. Anticipated uses include mass vaccinations, storm shelter, storing emergency supplies in a climate-controlled environment and storm shelter.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to apply for two separate grants that would provide funding for expansion of broadband services to the county.
The first is a $10.02 million National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant on behalf of Windstream. $7.7 million would come from federal funding with Windstream $ 2.3 million. If approved, broadband would become available to an additional 4,680 households.
The county will also apply for a state grant on behalf of Trailwave HEMC in the amount of $15 million, $12 million of which would come from state funding with the balance provided by Trailwave. If approved, broadband would become available to an additional 5,120 households.
In both cases, the county merely be a conduit. No county funds will be expended.