THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060503
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Former City Manager Richard L. Hedrick has accepted a job as county manager in Polk County, Florida's third-largest county.
Hedrick, 46, who resigned his position in Suffolk on July 20 after serving for three years, remains on Suffolk's payroll until Nov. 30. He left his post Sept. 16 after striking a closed-door deal with the City Council to leave early.
Council members said they agreed to let Hedrick leave 2 1/2 months early to allow him to complete his job search and gave him the $15,100 remaining on his contract. He has not returned to City Hall since.
Hedrick could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
He is scheduled to begin work in Polk County on Nov. 1 after accepting the job on Tuesday.
Hedrick will make $95,000 a year in Florida, about $10,000 more than he made in Suffolk. He received the unanimous support of the county commissioniers there.
Polk County, which includes the cities of Lakeland and Winter Haven, is between Orlando and Tampa. It has about 420,000 residents.
Mark Carpanini, Polk County attorney, said Hedrick will be given a $350 per month car allowance, a $5,000 moving allowance and $1,000 for an orientation trip to the county.
Hedrick was also one of two finalists for the manager post in Volusia County, Fla., and was considered that county's top pick. But last week, Volusia's eight-month search for a new manager ended in an impasse when the County Commission voted 4-3 in favor of Hedrick, falling one short of the number of votes required to hire a new county manager.
In Suffolk, the search for Hedrick's replacement continues. The city has narrowed a field of more than 140 candidates to five. The council met in a closed-door session Friday to review the resumes. City officials have refused to reveal any details about the five finalists. ILLUSTRATION: Hedrick
by CNB