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The county commissioners did not renew Jim Varner’s contract in their meeting Monday night, and the search for a new manager will begin soon.
Now is not the time to go bargain hunting.
The commissioners should resolve that they will seek the best candidate possible, not someone who will take the lowest offer.
We’ll repeat something we’ve said many times before – the commissioners would do the county, and themselves, a great favor by hiring a qualified candidate, paying him or her what they’re worth, and leaving the new manager alone to the job.
That hasn’t happened in recent memory.
We suggest that the commissioners cull applicants to a manageable group of three to five, then open up the process for community input. Some believe that opening the process limits the number of applicants. We don’t think that’s necessarily the case.
But even if the public process dissuades one or two insecure applicants, one concern of county residents is that some commissioners will look to hire a weak candidate who will support their positions and do their bidding. When the public is involved in the process, everyone knows what they’re getting.
The budget was tight this year, and there’s no contingency fund; yet, the commissioners shouldn’t limit themselves if the top candidate demands an above-average wage.
Opening up the process to the public and going for a quality candidate is the best way to get the county on the right track. A poor hire will mean more of the same, which isn’t acceptable.