Macon County manager Derek Roland to step down; board schedules special meeting on succession

Derek Roland, Macon County manager, announced at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 10 that he intends to step down and that Oct. 8, 2024 will be his last board meeting. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside some of the most talented, driven, and compassionate individuals I have ever known," Roland said, adding that he has given "the past 15 years of my life to the organization with the 10 of those years being as County Manager."

The board accepted the announcement and moved to set a follow-up meeting to address succession planning. Commissioner Justin Young (Commissioner Young) proposed a special called meeting for Sept. 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. to discuss options for an interim manager and the process for a permanent search; the board reached consensus to meet on that date. Commissioner Shearl noted he will be on vacation through Oct. 1 and will be absent for some scheduling windows.

The Sept. 17 session was framed as a working discussion with the county attorney present to review legal and procedural steps for interim appointment and for launching a recruitment or search. No formal action on hiring or interim appointment took place on Sept. 10; the board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8, when Roland said he will attend for his last official meeting.

Practical next steps described in the meeting record include an initial special meeting to outline a timeline and whether to pursue an interim appointment, plus staff direction to prepare any necessary personnel or legal materials for that session. The board did not vote on a successor or interim appointment at the Sept. 10 meeting.