administrator interview list

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Pike County Commissioners will again call candidates for the county administrator position to the table next week.

After interviewing seven individuals Monday night, commissioners recessed the meeting and will have more extensive interviews with Debra Gibson, Wilson Mobley and Mark Tyner. Those interviews will be conducted on April 30 at the Pike County Road Department office.

Gibson is currently employed by the Pike County Commission as chief financial officer.

It is her knowledge of Pike County’s budget, she said, that makes her a good candidate for the position of county administrator.

"I already know what you are doing," Gibson told commissioners Monday night, adding she understands the county’s goals and what it will take to achieve them.

Those three are not necessarily the final candidates for the position which pays $52,000 annually. A total of 17 people applied for the job vacated by Steve Hicks in February.

Mobley has been Coffee County’s administrator for 12 years and has served as president of the Alabama County Administrators Association.

He currently lives in Jack and said his knowledge of county government, ability to work with others and dedication make him the ideal person for the position of Pike County administrator.

Tyner is currently the city clerk and treasurer for the city of Hartselle, a position he has held since March 2000.

To him a county administrator would follow up on the decisions made by the commission.

He has a master’s in public administration from the University of Alabama.

Commission Chairman Willie Thomas said the commission does not want to "rush" a decision in choosing the next county administrator, but is "moving as fast as we can" to fill the vacancy.

In other business, Monday night, the commission:

· Voted to purchase two Mack dump trucks for the road department at a cost of $81,035 each. The low bidder was Gulf Coast Trucking Company, Inc.

Since the new trucks will not be delivered until June 27, County Engineer Herb Huner suggested selling three of the trucks now in use by the department and keeping one that is a 2001 model.

· Approved the lease of a digital copying machine from Montgomery Office Supply at a cost of $318 per month for 36 months.

· Approved the monthly expense report for March. It will be published in the newspaper.

· Voted to pay for a rental car so Commissioner Charlie Harris can travel to Tampa, Fla. for a meeting.