The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

County commission seeks temporary option until administrator can be replaced

Santorum to visit Warren County
11:50 p.m.
Suburbs looking for ways to save, focus on regional issues
11:11 p.m.
State to get faster Internet
11:06 p.m.
Demand increases for mental health services
11:04 p.m.
Ohio’s future may require workers to go back to school.
11:00 p.m.
> More headlines

By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 5:41 PM Monday, November 30, 2009

HAMILTON — With a budget crisis looming, Butler County commissioners say they’ll likely act next week to name a temporary replacement for outgoing county Administrator Tim Williams.

This person will help steer county government through the rest of the year, when commissioners are tasked with stitching together a 2010 budget that includes $6.6 million in cuts.

After that, commissioners say they’ll likely turn to a national search firm to “find the best of the best somewhere,” said commission President Donald Dixon.

“This is very critical and it’s a real important time for the county,” Dixon said. “We can set a new direction and we can reach for the best talent there is ... to help us change directions to get where we need to go.”

Dixon said he would prefer someone from outside the county who can “step in and not have any ties to the past.”

Commissioner Gregory Jolivette, on the other hand, said he would be more likely to “give extra points” to “someone in Butler County that would know the terrain.”

“I think we have a number of good candidates within the organization to fill in on an interim basis,” Jolivette said. “I don’t believe we’re going to miss a beat in the short term, and hopefully in the long term we can find a diamond that can fit in and help lead the county and lead the commissioners.”

Where the person comes from isn’t as important to Commissioner Charles Furmon, “just as long as they have integrity, and they have experience and the attributes we’re looking for.”

Furmon also noted that they may take their time finding a replacement to help save the county money. Williams’ current salary is $107,393.

Williams announced his resignation this month, saying he’s leaving to take a management job with  a retail company. His last day is  Dec. 11.

“The next month is going to be very interesting with the budget, trying to solve the budget crisis, and we’re going to miss Tim through that process,” Jolivette said.

Share this article