The County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 3 to authorize the chair to enter into a contract with Lonnie Joyce to become the county manager. The motion passed unanimously.

The board’s chair moved to authorize contract execution, saying, “I’ll make a motion that I be allowed to enter into contract with, our candidate, mister Lonnie Joyce to to become our new county manager.” Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. When the roll was called, Commissioner Watson, Chairman Brew, Commissioner Jones and Commissioner Biggs recorded “yes.” The board then welcomed the incoming manager: “Okay. Welcome aboard,” a commissioner said after the vote.

The vote followed a routine review of the draft employment contract; commissioners said they had no substantive changes. The chair told colleagues he had spoken with an absent member, who was supportive: “I did speak to James. He’s not able to be here today. He told me he was good with it, and he’s looking forward to working with our new county manager.”

The board discussed timing for a formal signing and public welcome. The chair said that after the contract signing there would be a formal event and encouraged the manager to invite family: “After we do a contract sign, we’ll do a formal bridal it forward. Hope you have your family here.”

Discussion vs. decision: the action taken was a formal authorization to execute an employment contract. No additional policy changes were adopted in the meeting, and no financial details beyond the existence of the contract were presented on the record.

The county indicated it will schedule a contract signing and onboarding; the board did not detail an exact start date or the contract’s financial terms during the public meeting.