Bill Clark

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The search for a county manager is over.

William “Bill” Clark, 60, was appointed to Columbus County’s top government position Tuesday night by a unanimous vote of the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Sammie Jacobs made the motion that was seconded by Commissioner Bill Memory to hire the former CEO of Columbus Regional Healthcare (CRH).

Commissioner Chairman James Prevatte, County Attorney Steve Fowler and Clark’s attorney will work out the details of his contract, Jacobs said.

Commissioners offered no details on the possible terms of Clark’s contract but Clark did say the salary would be $85,000 per year.

“I haven’t seen a contract yet,” Clark said.

Clark called the acceptance of the position “a great opportunity.”

“I’ve been in Columbus 16 years; this is my home,” Clark said. “I look forward to moving the county forward.”

The new manager said the first item of business is to get his contract negotiated.

“I’ve never done this before,” Clark said, pointing out that he has no county government experience. “I’ve agreed to go to the Institute of Government to get the necessary training.

“As far as the county goes, a strategic plan for the county is high on my priority list,” he said.

The decision comes after months of interviews following the board’s vote not to extend former county manager Jim Varner’s contract beyond Oct. 2007. Varner was paid $80,000 a year plus travel. A residency requirement was waived and Varner resided in Brunswick County.

Interim County Manager Leo Hunt, a retired finance officer from Robeson County, came to Columbus to serve as interim finance director but was appointed to the interim manager’s position until a replacement could be found.

Clark was one of more than 14 applicants, including two local candidates, who applied for the position.

He was interviewed twice in closed sessions and was the only candidate to receive a second interview.

A number of candidates withdrew their names from the search after accepting jobs elsewhere, after their interviews and some even before an interview could be scheduled.

Clark said he applied for the position after several members of the community asked him to.

His former employer, Quorum, lost its the contract to operate and manage CRH late last year when the hospital’s board of trustees voted to terminate the contract.

Clark admitted moving from the hospital administration field involved a big cut in pay.

“I could leave the county but I don’t want to; this is a good opportunity for me,” he said.