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Stokes County board welcomes new county manager Jeff Sandborne and defends pay
Summary
Stokes County commissioners introduced Jeff Sandborne as the county’s new manager, outlined his military and municipal experience, and said the salary the board approved aligns with the county pay plan and regional comparators.
The Stokes County Board of Commissioners formally welcomed Jeff Sandborne as the county’s new manager on Sept. 23, with commissioners citing his military leadership, educational credentials and local-government experience as reasons the board approved his compensation.
Commissioner Moris, who opened board remarks, said Sandborne’s background — including graduation from the U.S. Military Academy and master’s degrees in engineering and business administration — and his former roles as an Army battalion commander and village manager in Pinehurst informed the board’s unanimous hiring decision. “We feel his salary is well within the competitive range for a manager with his qualifications and experience,” Commissioner Moris said.
Board members described a national search, noted Sandborne’s documented performance in prior roles and said they aligned his pay with a newly approved county pay plan. Sandborne, who began meeting department heads in his first days on the job, told commissioners he planned to spend the next several weeks learning the organization and starting strategic-planning work. “I am really excited about the opportunity to serve our residents and our businesses here in Stokes County,” Sandborne said.
Commissioners praised interim manager Amber for her service prior to Sandborne’s arrival and said Amber will remain available to help with the transition. Members said the county will pursue organizational efficiencies and consider additional adjustments to front-office staffing to support economic development and longer-term planning.
The board’s public remarks at the Sept. 23 meeting did not include a detailed salary figure in the discussion transcript; commissioners said the approved level reflects comparisons with other county managers and the county’s new pay plan. The meeting advanced other business, including budget amendments and a reorganization affecting the finance director, which the board approved later in the session.
