T’ville hires new administrator

The Turbeville Town Council has hired Florence resident Rodney Johnson, as new town administrator to take the position of outgoing Town Administrator Teress W. Edge.

Johnson was offered and accepted the position on Thursday, Feb. 16, and will start out on a $40,000 salary with a probation period of six months; standard procedure for an administrative position, according to Turbeville Mayor Dwayne Howell.

Johnson, originally from Darlington, has 13 years of experience in various municipal positions in towns ranging from under 1,000 to 15,000 residents.

Johnson is a 1988 graduate of Francis Marion University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and 1991 graduate of Appalachian State University with a master’s degree in local government administration.

After receiving his master’s degree, he was hired as town administrator by the town of Rose Hill, N.C., population 1,300. From Aug. 1993 through Nov. 1995, Johnson served as town administrator for Hemingway, S.C., population 600, and was instrumental in the implementation of a rate structure for solid waste services, automation of utility billing systems, and implementation of recycling programs.

From Nov. 1995 through July 1998, he served as planning director for the City of Mullins, population 5,000. Some of the significant projects that Johnson said that he was involved with included securing funding for the rehabilitation of the local railroad depot for use as a market and museum, rehabilitation of low-income housing, replacement of obsolete water distribution lines in low income neighborhoods and securing grant funding for various projects from state and federal sources.

Johnson’s most recent job in town affairs, was serving as town manager for Hope Mills, N.C., population 15,100, from July 1998 through June 2005. Significant projects undertaken by the Town during his tenure included construction of the new town hall, design of a 20,000 square foot indoor recreation facility, design/permitting and early phases of reconstruction of Hope Mills Lake dam and bridge, and expansion of public works maintenance facilities. The town was able to meet long-standing goals of creating its own planning department and concluding the fiscal year with a budget surplus.

From 2005 to present, Johnson elected to become a stay-at-home dad, caring for his daughter, Sara. Johnson is married to wife, Dawn.

Howell said that a start date for Johnson’s position would be determined sometime this week. Howell said that he feels that the town made the right decision in accepting the offer to Johnson.

“He has much experience in managing various towns and has what we need to get the job done,” Howell said.