Lee County names Mike Sistrunk, Christi Dockery interim co-managers

LEESBURG — A couple of veteran Lee County employees will be directing county government while county commissioners continue their search to fill a void that has existed since November.

Mike Sistrunk, public works director, and Christi Dockery, county clerk, were chosen Tuesday night to handle the daily affairs of the county while the search is under way. The appointments were effective immediately and each comes with a $10,000 annual increase in pay while the two serve as co-managers.

The position has been open since November when the board terminated Ron Rabun. Rabun has since filed suit against the county for what he contends were irregularities in his departure.

“We’ve operated since Nov. 17 without a county manager,” Commission Chairman Rick Muggridge said during Tuesday night’s work session. “I want to say what a phenomenal jobs our department heads and constitutional officers have done.

“This opportunity has given me an insight into the inner workings that I have not have a privilege of seeing before. Our staff does a phenomenal job, but there are times every day that our county could benefit from having an executive on staff.”

Muggridge said Sistrunk is “just a great cheerleader for the employees of this county and is a great problem-solver when it comes to customer service.”

In regard to Dockery, Muggridge said that she “knows as much about the inner workings of this county government as anybody. There is not a person who is more loyal to Lee County.”

“This will give us some professionalism at the top and give us the manager we need.” Muggridge said.

Commission Chairman Dennis Roland supported the move. In addition to recognizing the contributions of Sistrunk and Dockery, Roland said the decision “gives hope to the lowest county employee that hard work will be recognized.”

Commissioner Greg Frich proposed that both Sistrunk and Dockery be given an addiitonal $10,000 annual pay stipend while they serve in the expanded roles. That proposal gained unanimous support, as did the motion to promote Dockery and Sistrunk.

Sistrunk joined Lee County in 2003 as deputy director of public works and was promoted to director in 2008. In addition to directing public works, Sistrunk also supervises the facilities, landfill and animal control operations. He is currently regional president of the American Public Works Association, a role he has held for the past two years. He will be responsible for all county personnel and all internal operations. Sistrunk also will manage all county property and facilities and manage relationships with constitutional officers and utilities authority.

Dockery joined the county in 2000 as county clerk, which made her responsible for recording the commission’s official actions, managing contracts and county records, serving as open records officer and serving on the Lee County Community Foundation Board. She is past president of the Georgia County Clerks Association.

In her new role, Dockery will add the responsibilities of managing external relationships of the county, approving contract and invoices and communicating with all external parties.

The commisison has entered into an agreement with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to help in the search for the manager. Applications are being taken through April 30. Interviews are expected to begin in mid May.

Muggridge also announced that Matt Inman, director of Planning, Zoning and Engineering, plans to join a private engineering company. His last day of employment with Lee County is Friday.