Press Release: Date of Issue September 4, 2024
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, the Levy County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) selected Mary-Ellen Harper as the County’s first County Manager.
The County Manager Position is new to Levy County. At the Board’s Budget Meeting on June 18, 2024, the County Coordinator Wilbur Dean announced his separation from employment by February 2025 and thereafter submitted a letter confirming the same.
On July 2, the Board discussed future management of the County and directed the preparation of an ordinance to establish a “Commission – Administrator/Manager” form of government pursuant to Part III of Chapter 125, Florida Statutes, known as the “County Administration Law of 1974.” This Ordinance provides the necessary framework for creation of a County Manager job description and subsequent appointment of a County Manager.
On August 6, 2024, the BoCC approved Ordinance Number 2024-5, AN ORDINANCE OF LEVY COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF LEVY COUNTY, FLORIDA RELATED TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATION; BY CREATING A NEW DIVISION TITLED “COUNTY MANAGER” WITHIN ARTICLE III – OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF CHAPTER 2 -ADMINISTRATION; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE, PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE CLERK AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Ms. Harper lives in Levy County with her husband Tom. Their son Thomas is a student at the College of Central Florida and their daughter Shannon is a senior at Chiefland High School. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Concentration in Personnel and Labor Relations from the University of New Haven in Connecticut and is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. The Executive Fire Officer Program for executive-level leaders is the flagship program of the National Fire Academy.
Ms. Harper, who has served as Levy County’s Public Information Officer since February 2024, will start as the County Manager on Monday, September 9, 2024. She intends to integrate the functions of the Public Information Officer into the County Manager’s Office rather than staffing two separate offices. County Coordinator Wilbur Dean will serve as a Special Projects Manager for the County Manager through February 28, 2025.
For Additional Information: Mary-Ellen Harper, MPA, EFO, Public Information Officer Levy County Board of County Commissioners Box 310, Bronson, Florida, 32621 Office: 352.722.2244 Cell: 352.914.7029 Email: PIO@LevyCounty.org P.O. Box 310 Bronson Florida 32621 Telephone (352) 486-5218 Fax (352) 486-5167 Email: levybocc@levycounty.org, Website: www.levycounty.org
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Posted September 4, 2024
