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Pembroke loses councilman, gains new city administrator
Anthony Greeson color
Greeson

Pembroke City Council announced Franklin Etheridge as the new city administrator at a called meeting Monday night.

Etheridge, currently the planning manager for Jackson County, Ga, said his two-week notice has been given and he begins with Pembroke on April 6.

A retired Air Force captain with 14 years experience in city and county government, Etheridge has a master’s of public administration and extensive background in growth and development planning, Pembroke Mayor Judy Cook said.

"We feel Mr. Etheridge will be a great asset to Pembroke as we anticipate [growth] influx from Ft. Stewart," she said.

Cook said Etheridge comes highly recommended and has established relationships with many agencies throughout the state.

"The council and I feel he will be a good fit for Pembroke," she said.

Council member Angela Reed, speaking on behalf of the human resources committee, said they are excited Etheridge is coming to join them.

"Of all the applicants, we like his military background, and can’t wait for him to start," she said.

Etheridge, who with his wife Denise has lived in the north Georgia mountains of Demorest for the last six years, said it would be a nice change to get back to the coastal area.

"I look forward to working with the council and community," he said Tuesday.

Also announced at the called meeting was the resignation of District 3 council member Anthony Greeson.

In a prepared statement addressing Mayor Judy Cook, the council and all residents of Pembroke, he said he was resigning because he is moving out of Pembroke.

"I resign my position as third district council member effective March 31. After that date, I will no longer be living in the city of Pembroke and that’s the reason I’m resigning.

"It is with a heavy heart that I resign my position," he said. "I’ve enjoyed being a part of this community, and I hope I can continue to find ways to help the city grow and flourish.

"I went to school, I’ve lived and worked here in the city, and I consider it my hometown," he continued.

Greeson, who is moving to a home he recently purchased in Ellabell, said there are several projects he started in the city and he would like to see them to completion with the Mayor and council’s approval.

"Lastly, I want to thank the citizens of Pembroke for their support," he said. "You should always have a say in who your elected officials are: that’s always been important to me, and I hope that’s important to the citizens."

Cook said it was with regret that they accepted his resignation.

Council member Tiffany Walraven said they were sad to see him go.

"He’s a valuable asset to our council but this has to do with what’s important to his family, and we understand that," she said.

 

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