Francisa Although the announcement has not been made officially, Carroll County Highway Superintendent Ron Francis told highway department workers last week he intended to resign his post at the Oct. 6 commissioners meeting.

"They were pretty upset about it," he told the Comet Tuesday.

Francis said he would not confirm the rumor but indicated he would be leaving in November. He said he did not want to leave the position, however he could not "pass up the opportunity" to make close to $10,000 more a year than he makes in Carroll County. He said the impetus for the possible move was when the county council refused to grant his request for a $7,500 salary increase in 2009.

"Working in Carroll County has been a great growing experience for me," he said.

Commissioners president Loren Hylton said county leaders had not received "anything official" yet, but expected a letter at the Oct. 6 meeting.

"Ron has done a good job," he said. "I really hate to lose him."

Hylton said after Francis submits the resignation letter, commissioners would approach the county council to receive permission to fill the position.

"I haven't addressed this with the other two commissioners yet," Hylton said.

Hylton said he did not see the need to replace Francis with someone with an engineering license.

"We had an engineer in the past and we didn't use the stamp more than once that I know of," he said.

When asked if commissioner candidate, running unopposed in the November general election, Pat Clawson would be included in the decision making process, Hylton said he was not inclined to include him any more than any other taxpayer.

"If he knows someone he thinks would be good for the position, he could ask them to apply," Hylton said.

Clawson said Tuesday he thinks county commissioners should hire an engineer. He said the state would pay a portion of the salary and it would be a good resource for the county. Clawson said commissioners should not rush to fill the position and should wait for a qualified applicant.

He said he would like to be part of the process to find Francis' replacement.

"I would like to see what's coming across the table at least," he said.

"We need someone who knows how to do the day-today operations, but manage the department like a business, too," he explained. "There should be no rash decision made."