Stories indexed with the term ‘county administrator’

A resolution to hire Verna McDaniel as the next county administrator is on the Feb. 3 agenda for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, and commissioners gave her a round of applause on Wednesday when that agenda item was announced at their administrative briefing.

But it was an item not on the agenda that yielded the most animated discussion on Wednesday: A countywide millage for Washtenaw County’s Natural Areas Preservation Program. The tax, which was first approved by voters in November of 2000 and took effect in 2002, will expire in 2011 and would need to go back to voters this year for renewal. Based on comments at Wednesday’s briefing, the millage renewal might face resistance from some commissioners. [Full Story]

In an interview that included moments of emotion, gravity and humor, Verna McDaniel fielded questions from the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on Thursday as a candidate to replace retiring county administrator Bob Guenzel.

McDaniel, currently the deputy county administrator and the only internal candidate for the job, was interviewed during the board’s working session, which was attended by several of the county’s department heads. After the meeting, Jessica Ping – one of three commissioners leading the search – said there are no plans to interview any of the dozen or so external candidates. The board is expected to vote on hiring McDaniel at its Feb. 3 meeting.

McDaniel has worked for the county since 1982, a tenure that included 18 years as executive director of human resources. In a formal presentation to the board, McDaniel pledged to be a strong and effective leader. “I’ve worked for 28 years in this county,” she said, “and I love it.”

For the most part, interview questions were scripted “to avoid any possible HR mishaps,” Ping said. But several commissioners voiced support for McDaniel in their remarks. Wes Prater thanked her for stepping up to the job, and said he believed she could do it. “But we need to go through a process,” he said. [Full Story]