Interim Patrick County Administrator Craig Teller is working on the basics that will form a foundation for the county’s future. From a story in the Martinsville Bulletin on Feb. 4.
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Teller was appointed interim county administrator recently, and a national search is under way for a county administrator. He says he wants the job for only four to six months.
He is a former Carroll County administrator and was appointed interim county administrator in early January to fill the post recently vacated by Mike Burnette.
Teller compared his role with the county with that of a mechanic.
“If Patrick County were a good ol’ car, I’d be the guy who comes in and does the tune-up work, washes it and gets it running properly,� he said.
If for instance the car needed painting, he would see that it got done, Teller said.
During his time in Patrick County, Teller said he will focus on putting the proper management controls in place and ensuring that the county’s boards and committees have full slates of members. He also will work to create basic filing systems and develop a comprehensive plan.
“We have to move immediately� to create the plan, he said. “A lot of work has been done. It’s just a little beyond the deadline� for completing the plan, he added.
Several projects also require action from the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, Teller said.
“There was an initial decision made by the old board to move forward� with a $38 million renovation project for the county schools, he said, but a number of related decisions remain.
For one thing, the new board will have to decide whether to continue with the renovation project as it was approved by the former board, Teller said.
A proposal to build a public water and sewer system to serve the Patrick Springs area also is up for review, Teller said.
If the proposal moves forward, officials anticipate “it will be a major economic development tool� and help lure businesses and new industry to the U.S. 58 corridor, between Wal-Mart and the Patrick Springs area, he said.
When those matters are combined with other issues — such as building a regional jail, renovating the courthouse and others — “there’s a tremendous amount this board has to address right away,� Teller said. Considering a small staff and limited resources, board members have a “major challenge� in determining the best path forward, he added.
A lot of those decisions will weigh heavily on the budget — another task on Teller’s “to-do� list.
By concentrating on the basics, Teller said, “when the new administrator does come in, everything will be operating in a way we can be proud of.�
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