Crosby selected as county administrator in 3-2 vote

By Carrie A. Mizell

The Gilchrist County Commissioners voted 3-2 Monday night to hire Trenton resident Bobby Crosby as county administrator.
Kenrick Thomas, Randy Durden and Sharon Langford voted in favor of hiring Crosby, while D. Ray Harrison Jr. and Tommy Langford cited his lack of qualifications for voting against the motion. Shortly after the motion passed, the commissioners voted unanimously on a second motion, proposed by Commissioner Harrison, to stand united behind Crosby as the new county administrator.
“I am overwhelmed with the support and encouragement given to me by the citizens of Gilchrist County, and I look forward to serving the people as their county administrator,” Crosby said on Tuesday morning.
Tim Bennett, Kent “KC” Cichon, and Bobby Crosby were called in individually Monday night for interviews before the county commissioners. Gilchrist County residents crowded into the county commissioners meeting room to hear what the top three applicants had to say and voice their own opinions on who the next county administrator should be.
When asked why he wanted to be the county administrator, Crosby said that he would like to have the opportunity to give back to the community he has called home for 24 years.
Commissioner Kenrick Thomas asked Crosby if he would be able to serve all the citizens of Gilchrist County fairly if he were hired, including the ones who have criticized him over the last several weeks. Crosby said that people have a right to say what they want to say, and he is a big enough person to look over it and serve every resident of Gilchrist County fairly.
During the interview process, Crosby spoke of possibly re-launching the county’s planning commission and initiating a management control system to monitor the productivity of county employees.
Citing his 20 years of work experience in the forest industry, Crosby said that a lot of time should be dedicated to agriculture in Gilchrist County.
When asked how he would reduce costs in the county, Crosby said he would go to each department and see where employees and equipment could be cross-used.
Unlike the other applicants for the position, Crosby didn’t hesitate when he was asked what his top priority would be as county administrator.
“The citizens of Gilchrist County,” Crosby said.
After a 30-minute break where citizens had the opportunity to meet and greet with each candidate, Commission Chair Tommy Langford called the meeting back to order.
Four local residents, Jean Wonser, Vicki Perez, Pete Butt and Jerry Nieman, spoke up, asking the commissioners to choose either Tim Bennett or Kent “KC” Cichon for the position, citing their government experience and qualifications.
In contrast, Gilchrist County residents C.D. Moore and Doug Crawford spoke in favor of Bobby Crosby being hired as county administrator.
Moore pointed out that Commissioner Sharon Langford is the only county commissioner with a college degree, yet the citizens of Gilchrist County had enough faith in the other county commissioners that they elected them to serve.
“It has been my experience over the years that the people of Gilchrist County can take care of their own,” Moore said, while encouraging the commissioners to hire Crosby, who is a longtime Gilchrist County resident.
Prior to making a motion to hire Crosby as the county administrator, Commissioner Kenrick Thomas told everyone gathered that he has been truly disappointed in the handful of people in Gilchrist County who have treated Bobby Crosby and his family “like dirt” during the hiring process.
“It doesn’t take educated people to serve the citizens of this county,” Thomas said. “My daddy served on this board for 16 years, and he only had a 9th grade education. It’s not just about someone’s education. I got a GED, but that doesn’t effect how I serve the people of this county.”
Commissioner Randy Durden agreed with Commissioner Thomas saying, “It’s a shame that the mindset of some is just to be mean.”
Citing the negative e-mails, phone calls, and letters he had received regarding Crosby, Commissioner Durden said, “I don’t know when it became a sin to hire someone from here. I keep hearing good ‘ol boy this and good ‘ol boy that. It’s the most ridiculus thing I’ve ever heard.”
Several outbursts of coughing and snickering followed from a few members of the audience.
Commissioner Sharon Langford said she too is ashamed at how out of control the hiring of a county administrator has gotten. Langford said she was in favor of hiring Crosby because she feels he will be able to talk to the people of Gilchrist County and because he lives here.
Despite voting against Crosby, Commissioners D. Ray Harrison Jr. and Tommy Langford said they intend to work fully with Crosby if he is hired as county administrator and move forward.
Tim Bennett was selected as the number two candidate for the position if negotiations with Crosby are unsuccessful. Commissioner Durden made a motion that negotiations with Crosby begin immediately. The results of the negotiations with Crosby will be announced in the January 3, 2012 county commission meeting.