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| Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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County engineer candidates interviewed
Published September 23, 2009
After spending around three and a half hours interviewing applicants for the county engineer position Monday afternoon, Jackson County Commission Chair Sadie Bias said she expects to make a decision on the hire this week.
The commission members met with each candidate individually Monday, taking about 20 minutes for each interview.
Of the nine candidates, a majority have been previously—or are currently—employed as county engineers. Two have previously served as Jackson County engineer.
Interviewees for the position included Jeremy Bracewell of Walton County, Fla., who is currently working with Jenkins Engineering, Inc. in Destin and previously worked as deputy director of public works for Walton County; Jason Jackson of Cottondale, who was most recently employed as staff engineer with the Cassidy Company, Inc. in Tuscaloosa and previously worked as assistant county engineer in Chilton County; Gordon O’Neal of Choctaw County, who has worked as a county engineer in Choctaw and Lawrence counties; Glen Partlow of Owens Cross Roads, who is currently a civil engineer with HDR Engineering in Orlando, Fla.; Greg Richard of Scottboro, who owns Engineering and Surveying, Inc. in Scottsboro and previously served as Jackson County engineer from 1999 until 2006; James Sentell of Wedowee, who’s currently employed as a location engineer for the Alabama Department of Transportation and previously served as Jackson County engineer from 1990 to 1995; J.D. Smith of Greene County, who is currently the Greene County engineer and was previously the Elmore County engineer; Jesse Waddell of Huntsville who was most recently a project manager and head of local office Civil Department at Goodwyn, Mills and Caywood, Inc. in Huntsville; and Philip Widner of DeKalb County who was DeKalb County engineer and previously the Cullman County engineer.
Bias directed the interviews, asking each candidate to describe his experience with subdivisions and flood plains, approach to preparing a budget and relationships with ALDOT, in both experience with its federal aid and bridges programs and working relationships with staff members. Bias also asked each candidate to describe what he considered his personal strengths and weaknesses and to explain his working relationship with the county commission as an engineer.
A few times, other commissioners asked the candidates question, including District 1 Commissioner Jack Smith asking one candidate if he could come to work by Oct. 1. Bias said having an Oct. 1 start date would not give someone enough time for a notice.
Several other candidates were asked when, if they were offered the job, they could begin work in Jackson County.
The commission approved an exception to its personnel policy at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 14, allowing each commission member be present during the interviews. Under the current personnel policy, the top five candidates are interviewed by the department head and up to two county commissioners.
Bias said both during the interview sessions and again after the meeting that she expects a decision will be made on a candidate this week.
The next regular meeting of the Jackson County Commission is Monday, Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m.
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