Boyz II Men sang that it’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

On Tuesday, Monique Grier found it just as hard to say goodbye to Jefferson County.

Grier, who has been director of Jefferson County’s G. Ross Bell Youth Detention Center since October 2017, has resigned. But the Georgia native had to give parting words to commissioners, other department heads and support staff.

“I wanted to come to commission meeting this morning and say thank you to everyone,” she said. “I want to say thank you to the commission for the opportunity, thank you for the support over the last eight years. I’ve enjoyed working here. I love the children.”

Grier said after the meeting she is taking a job in metro Atlanta, working more “on the community side.”

“It won’t be in government, but I’ll be still doing the same type of work,” she said. “Still working reentry services, community housing, all of those types of things. I’ll still be working with the population, but more so in the community, helping families, serving those that continue to be disenfranchised, but not on the criminal justice side.”

A procession of heartfelt embraces followed adjournment as commissioners and staffers let Grier know that she’ll be missed. She admitted that it’s hard to leave but added that the time is right.

“It’s definitely hard to leave but if ever (there were) a time, it’s now,” she said. “Everything is settled. Everything is in place. There are no vacancies. The education program is set. We have all of the teachers; we have all of the counselors.”

The departing director said that youth detention is in good hands with Deputy Director Juan Sepulveda. Commissioners placed a 15% salary increase for Sepulveda on the agenda of Thursday’s meeting as he assumes the duties of director on an interim basis.

“We have a strong deputy director,” Grier said. “We have a good training coordinator who could step up as well to support Juan.”

The former youth detention director added that a new youth detention facility will be built in coming years.

“Really,” she said, “if there were ever a time, it would be now.”

Today’s committee meeting opened with the commission moving to Thursday’s agenda a cooperative agreement with Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority. The agreement allows the county’s Roads and Transportation Department to administer a design contract to complete the design of a new roadway and public infrastructure to provide access, utility services and transportation connectivity to the JeffMet North industrial property.

Commission President Jimmie Stephens said Thursday’s pending approval is not to be taken lightly.

“What you just heard was the beginning of JeffMet North,” he said. “All you have to do is go to JeffMet South and see what the economic impact is going to be for the northern part of Jefferson County. It’s going to be transformational in the economic development for that particular area and the quality of life improvement for the citizens in north Jefferson County.

“That’s not just a product,” Stephens said. “That is the future of northern Jefferson County. I’m proud to say this commission is the one who’s initiated it.”