New County Administrator Deal Almost Done

SEBRING - Contract negotiations Friday morning with Michael Wright virtually guaranteed that he will begin work on Monday, June 2, as Highlands County's new chief executive officer.

Wright agreed to the major points of the contract offered to him by the county commissioners: a $150,000 per year salary and a $600 per month car allowance.

The county's three-person negotiating committee said "no" to two requests by Wright, but he said both points "aren't deal breakers."

By moving here from Tallahassee to replace retiring county Administrator Carl Cool, Wright may also give Highlands County an additional part-time college professor.

Wright asked the negotiating team if he could teach at the college level on weekends, if he had that opportunity and each specific teaching assignment was approved in advance by the county commissioners.

The negotiating team said that would be fine and probably will be approved by the commissioners. Wright, an assistant city manager with Tallahassee, said he taught part-time on weekends at a college in West Palm Beach when he was in a city management job there.

"I think that'd be great for the community," Highlands County Tax Collector Charles Bryan, a member of the negotiating committee, said about the possibility of Wright teaching a college course or seminar on weekends.

Wright's hiring won't be official until the contract is approved by the county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday and then signed by Wright.

Based on Friday's contract negotiations, it's more than a safe bet that the contract will be approved.

The negotiating committee said it won't recommend to the commissioners two contract provisions Wright asked for: nine months, instead of the six months offered, of severance pay if he is fired; and county payment, of about $2,600 per year, for his wife's inclusion on his medical insurance coverage.

County Commissioner Don Bates, a member of the negotiating team, said commissioners might consider increasing the months of severance pay the longer Wright is in the job. On paying for his wife's medical insurance under the county's plan, Bates said that would be "a tough sell" to the county commission.

County Attorney Ross Macbeth, another member of the negotiating committee, said Wright's medical insurance should remain, as offered, the same as for all county employees.

The committee said it will recommend approval of Wright's request for $1,000 per month for up to three months to cover Wright's cost of temporary housing while he looks for permanent housing in Highlands County.

On moving expenses, the commissioners offered Wright up to $5,000. Wright asked for reimbursement of the "actual expenses" of moving his family's household goods. Bates said the commissioners would probably approve that request, but would want to put a limit on moving expenses.

"I want to get there as soon as I can," particularly because county officials are starting to deal with budget issues, Wright said. He said he should be able to start on Monday, June 2.

Cool retires after 17 years as the county's administrator on May 31.

Wright was the unanimous choice of the five county commissioners to replace Cool from among more than 60 applicants who were weeded down to five finalists.