candidates

By STACY GRANING

News Editor

Pike County commissioners will interview five candidates for the county administrator’s job on Monday.

The interviews are the first step toward filling the job, which has been open since mid January, when Administrator Mark Tyner left to take a job in another county.

"The commission didn’t vote for a time limit" to refill the position, said Charlie Harris, District 5 commissioner. "I think we should’ve had one by now."

However, the selection and interview process is a lengthy one. Once applications were received for the job, each commissioner was asked to pick his or her top five candidates from among the applications. "Then we put together (the commission’s) top five list from that," Harris said.

The men invited to interview are:

·

Don Corkran, a Montgomery resident who works with Bassmasters;

·

Robert Griggs, an Alexander City resident who is an advisor and instructor at AUM in Montgomery;

·  Douglas Pride, a Banks resident and former assistant state auditor in Ohio;

·

Tobbie Ricks, an Andalusia resident who is a staff accountant;

·

And Harry Sanders, a Brundidge resident who works in sales management.

Myra Ellis, the interim administrator, said commissioners will narrow the field after these interviews. "Then they’ll bring the top candidates back for in-depth interviews," she said.

The county administrator is responsible for the county’s organizational, management, budget and administrative operations and works under the policies established by the commission. The administrator oversees the county’s budget, which is more than $8 million annually, and handles all payroll and bookkeeping responsibilities.

"There are approximately 122 county employees (in departments that range from the Sheriff’s Department to Probate Judge," Ellis said. While each department head or elected official is responsible for his or her employees, "everybody comes here for personnel issues and all payroll is handled by the county administrator," she said.

The starting salary range for the position is $52,600 to $79,500 annually, depending on experience, Ellis said.

Interviews will take place at 4 p.m. at the Road Department building.