From Frankin County: After 32 ½ years in local government, Franklin County Administrator Richard Huff has announced that he is leaving to enter private sector employment on July 1, 2015. “Franklin County has been an extremely good place for my family as all 3 of our children graduated from Franklin County High School with honors. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving this wonderful community as 24 years of my career have been spent here working with many great Board members and a hard working and dedicated staff,” said Huff. “I believe that Franklin County has developed a great reputation among local governments in the state and it will be an attractive position for other experienced Administrators.” Huff served as Assistant County Administrator from 1983-1985, and County Administrator from 1985-1991 and from 1999-2015.
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“Rick has been a great leader,” said Board Chairman Cline Brubaker. “He has helped to put the County’s finances on a very solid footing during the recent recession and he also has a strong knowledge of local government service.
“There have been many noteworthy accomplishments during my 24 years in Franklin County, all of which began with vision and foresight by the Board and diligence every step of the way by hard working County staff”, added Huff. To list a few would have to include the following:
- Regional Partnerships that have benefitted the County in more ways that can be mentioned including the Regional Jail, Economic Development, Tourism, Juvenile Detention, and Smith Mountain Lake Planning.
- Utility Development through the initial partnership with Bedford County to bring water to Franklin County and now through a subsequent partnership with the Western Virginia Water Authority has made it possible to have water service available to Burnt Chimney, Westlake, and the 220N corridor. Recent agreements with the Town of Rocky Mount will now make it possible for the County to extend water and sewer in any direction from Rocky Mount as needed for Economic Development purposes. All of this has been set into motion without the County having to establish its own Utilities Department, utility maintenance function, or operational subsidies.
- The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise has provided much needed workforce and educational services to a broad cross section of the community including new business support, existing business assistance and training opportunities for adults of all ages.
- The establishment of Franklin County as a financially sound and stable local government in the eyes of the global rating agencies has brought the County from an unrated status to a rating of AA+, the second highest rating possible.”
“The County is in good shape and the Board of Supervisors has a clear vision of what it wants to accomplish moving forward. It’s a good time to pursue an attractive offer I have been presented to step outside of local government and watch tremendous things continue to happen as a resident of the community. I wish the Board and the staff much success, Huff concluded.”
The Board will meet soon to decide how they will move forward in the selection of a new County Administrator.
