After being passed over for the job 19 months ago, Kristi Shead will soon be settling into her new job as Demorest City Manager. The city council appointed Shead to the position Tuesday after accepting the resignation of Steve Lindsey.
“He did not indicate any reason why,” says Demorest Mayor Rick Austin. He says Lindsey’s 80 day notice took effect immediately. “The clock started ticking Tuesday on his resignation and on his leaving the city.”
Austin publicly expresses his gratitude to Lindsey for helping to move the city forward during a tumultuous time. “I’m very pleased with the relationships he established,” says Austin. “He was a very much needed voice of calm leadership in a transition that was very difficult for us as we transitioned from a a city manager who had been here for 30 years. I’m vey appreciative for his service to the city.”
RELATED Demorest City Manager finalists
Demorest’s charter requires the City Council to make appointments during its first meeting in January each year. “The City Attorney felt comfortable that since she (Shead) was a finalist in our last city search, that appointment was made,” explains Austin. “We are now going through that 14 day time period that is required naming her as the sole finalist for the position.”
It’s a position for which Austin says Shead is well suited.
“Kristi brings so much to the table. As senior financial analyst for Piedmont College she has her MBA completed. She has some of her CPA course work under her belt. She brings a very strong leadership background with her.”
Those credentials, combined with the fact that she’s from Northeast Georgia, were significant factors in her selection as a finalist in 2015 and her appointment this year. “She knows many of the players she’ll have to interact with on a regular basis,” says Austin. “We feel she’s the person to take us to the next level of excellence we’re seeking to achieve in the City of Demorest.”
In addition to Shead, there is one other change in Demorest’s leadership lineup this year. Council voted to appoint Robert Sneed as Demorest’s new Municipal Judge. He’ll take over the job from local attorney Wink Verdery who held the post for decades.
Austin describes Sneed as a well known municipal judge in Northeast Georgia and adds, “Sometimes change is good for an organization and we hope this change will be good for us. We thank Wink for his long length of service to our city.”
Other Demorest city appointments for 2017 include:
- City Clerk – Marlena Sosebee
- City Attorney – Joseph Homans
- City Engineer – Ben Turnipseed
- City Treasurer – Joely Mixon
- Chief of Police – Robin Krockum
- Fire Chief – Ken Ranalli
- Public Utilities Director – Bryan Popham
- Waste Water Superintendent – Charlie McGugan
- Code Inspector – Phillip Gruber
