By NICOLE CARTRETTE

The Columbus County manager’s contract was adopted more than three months before it was signed.

Under the terms of the contract it became effective when it was signed by Chairman Kip Godwin. The contract approved on June 30 was signed Oct. 3, 2006.

Columbus County Manager Jim Varner receives an annual base salary of $81,000, under the contract. He is to be provided a vehicle if one is available or be compensated for his mileage at the rate established by the IRS. Varner is also entitled to “reasonable expenses in conducting county business,” according to the contract.

Varner’s benefits include vision, dental and life insurance. Vacation benefits, sick leave, retirement benefits, and deferred compensation benefits are included.

The contract includes 1,208 hours of accrued sick time with the provision that one month of retirement credit is allowed for each 20 days of sick leave. A maximum of 96 hours may be used for sick leave “as defined by the personnel policy,” the document reads.

In addition to a 401K contribution “in percentages equal to annual contributions made to the 401K accounts of all employees of the county,” the county was to reactivate Varner’s 13 years and one month credit with the N.C. Local Government Employee’s Retirement System (NCLGERS).

“In lieu of payment of medical insurance from Sept. 1” the county agreed to purchase 10 months of service Varner previously paid into the NCLGERS from Sept. 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. The dollar figure amount is not disclosed.

Under a termination clause of the contract, Varner “may be dismissed without cause and without notice” but is to be paid in monthly increments for five months after his termination. A copy of the drafted contract is available online at columbusco.org by clicking on governing body and June 30 minutes.

Godwin sent an e-mail at 3:25p.m. Friday to The News Reporter requesting that he be contacted by e-mail only. In the e-mail Godwin states that he contacted the reporter that morning, got voice mail, but did not leave a message.

“In order to ensure a prompt and accurate response to your inquires, I would request that all questions, and requests for comments or other information be submitted in writing via e-mail using this address from this point forward,” the e-mail read.

Godwin has not responded to questions e-mailed to him on Friday afternoon.

Many of the questions regard the manager’s contract, located on-line prior to being received at 5 p.m. on Friday via hand delivery from the county.

Godwin contacted The News Reporter last week and commented on a number of public records requests mailed to the personnel director, finance director, and county attorney. One of the requests asked for access to a signed copy of the manager’s contract.

At that time, Godwin stated that the contract was not a public record but since it had been made available before a copy would be provided.