According to a press release on Monday afternoon, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has scheduled an executive session to conduct interviews this Friday to fill the position of interim county manager after longstanding County Manager Paul Van Haute recently announced plans to retire.
On Monday afternoon, the Board of Commissioners identified three finalists being considered for the position: Tim Hults, Byron Lombard, and Emily Woodmaster. Documentation on each finalist's qualifications is available from Putnam County Human Resources Director Cynthia Miller at the BOC office (117 Putnam Dr., Eatonton).
Hults currently serves as a senior associate with The Collaborative Firm, a national planning and development consulting company with offices in Atlanta and Savannah. Hults previously served as city manager in San Jacinto, Calif.
Lombard is presently the owner/operator of Lombard Consulting Services. He previously served as county manager of Greene County.
Woodmaster is the founder and principal of her own consulting firm, Principled Collaborative, which focuses on local government management and planning.
Previously, she served as the chief administrative officer in Baldwin, Ga. The Middle Georgia Regional Commission has managed the recruitment process to date under the direction of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.
The Putnam BOC said it believes each candidate brings strong educational and professional credentials to the position and is capable of setting the county up for success during any transitional period.
According to the county’s release, the Putnam BOC intends to vote on confirming one of these candidates during a special-called meeting on April 30.