OTTAWA – Franklin County commissioners have decided to name county counselor and interim administrator Derek Brown as county administrator. The move came after commissioners couldn’t strike a deal with their original finalist. Initially, Brown said he was happy being counselor and didn’t intend to apply for the administrator’s job. However, after talks broke down, commissioners decided to ask Brown to stay on as administrator, said commission chair Colt Waymire. “We told him we wanted to do the things that would help him be successful,” Waymire said. That includes hiring a new finance director who would handle budgeting and other financial oversight – duties that Brown confessed that he had little experience with. Brown said he would continue to be counselor. Several years ago, commissioners named then-counselor Lisa Johnson as administrator, which was successful, Waymire said. For his part, Brown said that as someone who was a native and who grew up in Franklin County and who has family living here, he said he’s glad to serve the community. He will receive $126,000 per year, plus a $4,800 vehicle allowance and other benefits.
Wednesday, Feb.8, 7 a.m.
