By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
The Etowah County Commission unanimously voted to approve a contract with Sherrie Y. Kelley for the Chief Administrative Officer position at the Etowah County Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 7.
The position opened after the commission terminated the contract with Patrick Simms, following his arrest for sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 in Chambers County.
At the meeting, Etowah County Commissioner Larry Payne thanked Commissioners Carolyn Parker, Tim Choate and Lewis Fuller for selecting three excellent prospects for the position.
Kelley was selected from the three final applicants interviewed by the commission.
Kelley has previous experience in county administration. She was the County Administrator with the Coosa County Commission since 2001 and prior to that served as their Assistant County Administrator as well as other positions with Coosa County and Clay County.
Her list of credentials goes on, as she was the President of the Alabama County Administrators Association in 2006- 2007, and has served on the Board of Directors since 2007. Kelley was President of the Alabama City County Management Association in 2008 – 2009 and 2014-2015 and has also served as Vice President and President Elect. She currently serves on the NACO Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee after being appointed in 2005.
Ms. Kelley will begin her contract in Etowah County on August 7, after finishing 30 days of notice at her current job.