“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”

Al Pacino from The Godfather Part 3

Tony Petelos could have recited Pacino’s famous line except the retiring county manager knew he wasn’t out. At least not yet.

Cal Markert, the deputy county manager who was recently hired to be county manager, was called on to present the report of the county manager during Tuesday’s committee meeting of the Jefferson County Commission. Markert mentioned that Petelos was in his office, taking in the meeting via livestream. Hearing that, commissioners asked Petelos to join them for his final committee meeting.

“I’ve said once and I’ve said it again and again and again,” Petelos said. “We have good staff in place. I feel confident about the staff in the county. You commissioners work well together. You don’t agree on everything but you do work well together.”

A commissioner observed that Petelos appeared to have gotten some sun since largely stepping away from county business. He said he’s been busy outside with a “honey do” list from his wife.

“I’ve enjoyed retirement,” he said. “I’m coming in one or two days a week (as) I’m burning all my vacation days down. I think the county’s in good shape and, watching them from afar, you’re doing good without me.

“October 1 will be the official day that I’ll leave the county for good and Cal takes over,” Petelos said. “I’m very excited about Cal taking over.”

Retiring county employees are expected to attend the commission meeting Thursday.

Problem Reporting

Commissioners decided they would take up on Thursday’s agenda spending $67,700 for Rock Solid, a program designed to make it easier for residents to report county repair needs.

Markert said it allows county residents much easier access to report problems such as potholes and drainage issues.

“It is automatically tied to our departments and gets there real quick and efficiently,” he said, adding that the program also allows easy tracking of efforts to address the problem.  “We have been working on this for quite a while. It is the top of the line, fairly inexpensive, efficient program to really help us serve our citizens.”

Commission President Jimmie Stephens and Pro Tem Lashunda Scales each said the program is not a substitute for citizens speaking with the commissioner who represents their district.

“I think it’s important, and I think the other commissioners will agree, that we maintain our citizen contact,” Stephens said. “This is a joint effort from the commission and through management to get this out.”

“We’ve got to remember that your commissioner is your elected official and the type of job that you as county employees do will determine if we get reelected or not,” he said. “So if you hear us fussing sometimes, it’s because of that. If you do your job, everything will work out wonderfully and you get to see us for another four years.”

Update: Commissioners did approve spending for the program during their full meeting Thursday.

Surplus Vehicle Sales

Among other matters sent to Thursday’s agenda were four resolutions authorizing the sale of surplus county vehicles to the fire districts of Mount Olive, McAdory, Antioch and Eastern Valley. Each fire district is in the commission district of Stephens, whose office arranged the purchases.

Scales reminded the county manager’s office that she wants to be aware of surplus vehicles available for sale in the future, as municipalities in her district may also benefit from such sales.