By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

The Osceola County Commission May 10 discussed but took no action on either starting an official search for a permanent county manager or offering the interim manager the job.

Several commissioners were ready to offer the job to Interim County Manager Don Fisher who took over the job with the firing of Michael Freilinger April 5 for reasons relating to the running of the county jail and other issues.

“The perception of how Osceola County operates has changed,” Commissioner Brandon Arrington said. “I would ask for a contract for Don Fisher to keep him on.”

Commissioner John Quiñ-ones said giving the interim manager a contract now would be “premature,” saying the county needed to begin an official search.

County Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr. said the county did not need to spend money on a national search.

“Don is here; he has the best stage now for his interview process; he is not a yes man,” Hawkins said, adding that he is “happy with the job Fisher has done so far.’

Commissioner Michael Harford said he wanted the commission to set a schedule for searching for a permanent county manager.

“We owe it to our residents to make a decision,” Harford said.

Commissioner Ken Smith said he was “happy with Don, too,” and that he didn’t believe a national search was necessary, adding that he still prefers the county wait until after the November election to hire a permanent county manager, since there potentially could be two new commissioners at that time.

“I don’t see the urgency; I’m happy with Don; if you want to make him our county manager, I wouldn’t have a problem with that,” Smith said. “Hiring a headhunter for a national search didn’t work the last time. Don chose to come here and work for us; they wanted him to stay in Seminole County. He chose St. Cloud to be his home; that goes a long way with me.”