WINTON – October 1 is a tentative date for a new Hertford County Manager.

In Monday night’s meeting of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners, Interim County Manager John Ed Whitehurst provided a tentative calendar to begin the search process.

Hertford County has been without a permanent manager since 15-year veteran County Manager Donald C. Craft retired just over a month ago. Two days later Whitehurst was brought aboard as Interim with a contract that is scheduled to run for at least six months.

&uot;I think the Board should start setting a timetable for recruiting a county manager,&uot; Whitehurst said. &uot;I know your first priority is the budget, but we should at least look at the first steps.&uot;

Whitehurst then suggested the Board direct him to prepare a preliminary advertisement for the post and then proceed with placing the ad in state and national publications.

&uot;I also think you should start getting together to talk about the qualities you want in a new manager,&uot; Whitehurst said. &uot;It’s certainly not urgent right now, but it is something you may want to consider.&uot;

According to what was termed a &uot;flexible&uot; timetable, applications for the post would be taken until June 30 with the commissioners then taking more than a month to review those documents and select those with whom they wished to speak about the position.

&uot;My guess is that anyone you hire probably would have to give 30 days notice,&uot; Whitehurst said. &uot;So, you are looking at the end of September to the first of October before someone would be available.&uot;

Commissioner Johnnie Ray Farmer said the ideas presented to the Board were fine with him.

&uot;It sounds like we have a plan,&uot; Farmer said.

Commissioner Curtis Freeman also said he would like to proceed with the outline presented to the Board.

&uot;Since you have said explicitly, you’re going to leave us, I guess we should go forward,&uot; Commission Chairman DuPont Davis told Whitehurst. &uot;You have a consensus to proceed.&uot;

In other business, the Board:

* was urged by Commissioner Farmer to adopt a resolution concerning the multi-laning of U.S. 158;

* presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Ahoskie Rescue Squad, Como EMS, Murfreesboro Rescue Squad, Winton Rescue Squad and Hertford County Emergency Services for &uot;Emergency Medical Services Week,&uot;

* presented 2004 Governor’s Volunteer Award Certificates; and

* heard a legislative update from Chairman Davis.