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Butler County administrator to resign

Tim Williams

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 12:40 AM Thursday, November 19, 2009

Butler County Administrator Tim Williams is resigning next month as the county struggles to stave off a fiscal crisis.

Williams said Wednesday, Nov. 18, he’s leaving to take an executive position with a private-sector retail business north of Dayton.

“If this opportunity hadn’t come up, I wouldn’t be leaving,” he said. “I’d be at least around another year.”

Instead, Williams’ last day will be Dec. 11. Commissioners are scheduled to accept the resignation at a meeting today in Hamilton.

Williams took the county’s reins last year from former administrator Derek Conklin, who resigned when questions arose about whether he played a role in securing raises for his wife, a county employee.

Before that, Williams was assistant county administrator, though he spent most of his roughly 15 years with the county as finance director. He previously had worked for AK Steel Corp. for 22 years, he said.

Williams’ salary is $107,393 after a recent 10 percent pay cut that was part of the county’s efforts to deal with revenue shortfalls, according to county officials.

Williams leaves as county leaders struggle with a projected $6.6 million deficit brought on by declining sales tax and investment revenues during the recession. The first round of budget cuts — and increases — submitted by all elected county officials left them $5.3 million from that goal with little more than a month left in the year.

Commission President Donald Dixon called Williams’ announcement “sudden.” “The timing could have been a little better, but we wish him well,” Dixon said.

Dixon and Williams are confident the county can handle the challenge, especially with the recent hiring of Finance Director Pete Landrum.

Williams said he has dealt with numerous challenges in his 15 years — projects he didn’t agree with, political turmoil — but he refuses to take credit for any major successes.

“I’m not a decision-maker, I just work for three commissioners” he said. “I’m just a staffer and I try to do my job. I’m not a decision-maker, and change is for the politicians to take credit for.”

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I agree with Westchestbest that Butler County should hire the Hamilton Utility guy that left. The Hamilton Utilities are well ran and cheap - they have to be to compete with Duke and DPL.Private sector competition is what County Government needs! If Hamilton Council was dumb enough to let him go the County should jump all over him. I would like to see him start with King Richard's budget!

Monroehigh98
3:42 PM, 11/19/2009

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I hear tell thatt the commishioners were at Purple Rainey's once, but was told not poeple to say.

Dirtbag
3:17 PM, 11/19/2009

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Williams was never nothing more than the waterboy for the commissioners. He was the one they always trotted out with the bad news. Clearly he offered no solutions, just blamed the guy there before him and those working around him.

RJ
3:14 PM, 11/19/2009

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To westchestbest...unfortunately, the open position of County Administrator is just a staffer job with responsibility for nothing as stated above. Someone with actual accomplishments will be wasted in that situation. Better to fill it with a $10/hr. temp who is not expected to offer original ideas or ask questions, but only follow the 3 wise men's mis-aligned goals and direction.

greatly concerned
2:39 PM, 11/19/2009

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I would strongly suggest Butler County pursue the former Hamilton Electric Director (Mike Perry) - who Hamilton City Council ran off by the Administration pay cuts. That guy turned the entire utiility department around. I had the City of Hamiton run my last 12 Duke Energy bills using their rates and my bills would of been over $560, or 22%, cheaper in Hamilton! Obviously Mike Perry knows how to run a government organization like a business - that is what the county has a desperate need of.

Westchestbest
1:44 PM, 11/19/2009

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