<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wise County's Skinner returns to Lenowisco
Glen "?Skip' Skinner will assume his new duties as Lenowisco executive director on Aug. 1.
By STEPHEN IGO
[email protected]
WISE "? The Lenowisco Planning District Commission isn't in the business of lending localities administrators. It's just how things worked out with Glen "Skip"? Skinner.
Skinner worked nearly 23 years at Lenowisco before being hired 3½ years ago as Wise County's administrator. Now he's returning to Lenowisco to take over the administrative reins from retiring Lenowisco Executive Director Ron Flanary.
Before Skinner took up his post in Wise County, he served as Flanary's assistant executive director for several years. Flanary said he tried to keep a low profile during the Lenowisco board's search for a successor to his 33 years of service, the last 17 as executive director.
"I was absent from that. I told them "?This is a board decision' because I'm the guy headed out the door,"? Flanary said Wednesday. Not that he isn't happy the board chose a former sidekick and a familiar face with proven managerial qualities.
"Obviously, I'm quite pleased. I think this is a good way to continue the organization with immediate, proven expertise,"? he said.
Skinner's tenure as Wise County's administrator was
even more valuable experience, Flanary said, because the next Lenowisco executive director now has hands-on experience of what the commission's clientele deal with.
"Skip added to his professional experience and got valuable exposure to different aspects of different issues as Wise County's administrator,"? Flanary said. "I think he comes back an even better candidate than when he left, and I am very, very happy for him."?
Skinner was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. Wise County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Adkins said county officials knew there was always a pretty good chance Skinner could return to Lenowisco when supervisors hired him in 2004.
"Truly, in my heart I knew there was a good possibility when he came on board that, when and if the opportunity presented itself with Lenowisco, he would go back,"? Adkins
said. "Administrator was a good stepping-stone for him. It's given him some good experience, and it's not like he's jumping ship and will be gone from us for good. He will be there at Lenowisco for us."?
With a highly experienced assistant county administrator in place in Shannon Scott, Adkins said supervisors will likely take their time hiring a replacement for Skinner. Scott has handled acting county administrator duties on several occasions over the past two-plus decades.
"Without speaking for the whole board, I would imagine we will sit down and look at what we have in house and go from there,"? Adkins said. "Skip has done an excellent job. He's been a good administrator. He's brought a whole lot of good experience to that office. He's been an excellent administrator and brought a lot to the table, a lot to that office."?
Flanary retires on July 1, and Skinner won't assume his new duties at Lenowisco headquarters in Duffield until Aug. 1. Skinner will take a monthlong breather between his final day as Wise County administrator and his first day as executive director of Lenowisco.
Current Lenowisco Assistant Executive Director Duane Miller will be acting chief of the planning commission during July, Flanary said.
Rather than catch the first train into the sunset, Flanary said he will continue to offer his services to Lenowisco in an advisory capacity.
"It's good to have something to look forward to in the mornings than just shave,"? Flanary said. "This will continue to give me some purpose in my life without demanding a whole lot of heavy time."? </div></div>
Great, here comes a nice $50 000 search for a county administrator.
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