From Staff Reports 

Following the abrupt retirement of Buncombe County Manager Mandy Stone on June 8, the county Board of Commissioners worked with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners to identify an interim replacement. 

With rave reviews, the commissioners unanimously voted for a contract with George Wood at their June 19 meeting. Commissioner Joe Belcher said references the commissioners contacted had given rave reviews, prompting Commissioner Al Whitesides to quip that he was going to take Wood to Lake Julian because, according to what he had been hearing, Wood could walk on water.

 Wood is a retired city/county manager who most recently served in Wayne County. In his 35-year career, he was also the manager of Lincoln County; Statesboro, Ga.; Cleveland, Tenn.; Kings Mountain; Pinehurst; and Kingstree, S.C.

 The commissioners had interviewed a handful of other candidates and said they had gotten a lot of good ideas from the interviews. Wood said he is only somewhat familiar with the county’s ongoing federal investigation, but now that things seem to be sorted out, his plan will be to keep the county running on an even keel.

 Wood will not be considered for the permanent position because he is retired and collecting state retirement. Consequently, he cannot earn more than $83,111 or work more than 999 hours for the county.

 He will serve only until Feb. 28, 2019, unless a permanent county manager is found sooner. A resident of Lincolnton, Wood plans to work only three days a week — and spend the other four at home.

 Wood had hoped to spend his retirement in interim municipal management jobs. His first day on the job for Buncombe County was June 13.