After six months on the job, Habersham County’s assistant public works director has resigned. Now Habersham has confirmed that Brian Brackett turned in his resignation letter to the county on January 17. His last day on the job was January 26.
Now Habersham obtained a copy of Brackett’s resignation letter through an open records request. In the letter sent to public works director Jerry Baggett, Brackett said, “I have enjoyed working with you and the guys over here, but opportunities have arisen that can’t be passed up.”
According to Habersham County Clerk Brandy Carnes, Brackett did not receive a severance package since he voluntarily resigned.
Turbulent tenure
Brackett’s short tenure as assistant public works director was turbulent from the start. He was one of several upper management hires Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn brought in from Catoosa County, where she previously worked.
Some from within the public works department and county government questioned the need for an assistant director and the expense. The job Brackett was hired for was newly created, with a starting salary higher than that of his boss.
Brackett started in July 2022, making $88,000 a year. The county also gave him three weeks of banked vacation time and paid him a $3,500 living allowance, according to his employment offer. By comparison, Habersham hired Baggett as public works director in December 2021 for $80,000 a year. The county raised his salary to $90,000 five months later. The previous public works director Derick Canupp held the job for eight years and was making around $83,000 a year when he left in October 2021.
Before he was hired in Habersham, Brackett worked eight years in Catoosa County in the Building Maintenance and Public Works Departments. He did not say in his letter where he is going.
Carnes says Baggett and Vaughn will decide whether to hire someone else to fill the assistant public works position.
“No directives have been given at this time,” she says.
