published: Friday, November 21, 2008

Sebring announces new public works director

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- With Dan Andrews dissenting, the city council voted to appoint Robert "Rob" Miller as the new public works director.

Miller, who was one of 41 applicants for the position, is coming to Highlands County from Lottsburg, Va. where he has served as maintenance operations manager for two years. Before that Miller worked in a variety of public works positions for the city of Escondido, Ca. over a period of seven years.

The new director's position is part of the city's restructuring meant to economize and streamline labor.

Miller will oversee both the roads, buildings and grounds department and the solid waste department. He will also take on some responsibilties from City Administrator Scott Noethlich making that position more manageble.

Mayor George Hensley, in describing Miller -- who will arrive in town over the weekend -- said he had answered a long questionaire, been interviewed initially during a conference call, and had finally visited for a second face-to-face interview.

Hensley said almost from the beginning it was clear Miller would be the search committee's first choice, his attitude, general knowledge, and ideas making him stand out right away.

In fact, Hensley said, he and the committee were so taken with Miller that they ended up offering him a higher salary than had been advertised -- which had been in the $60,000 to $65,000 range. Miller accepted a salary of $68,000 with a moving bonus of $5,000. The moving bonus would be pro-rated and returned to the city if Miller did not work out.

It was at this point that Andrews stated his objections, pointing out that Noethlich, who would supervise Miller, made roughly the same salary, and that was a problem as far as Andrews was concerned.

"I can't fathom paying someone under (Noethlich) as much as him," Andrews said, especially as Miller did not have the four-year engineering degree that the job description called for. Instead, his experience was accepted as a substitute. Andrews said Sebring's offer amounted to $15,000 raise for Miller, and he also worried that paying a moving bonus in these economic times set a bad precedence.

"I think (Miller's) qualified," Andrews said, "but not to the elevated salary."

"We interviewed two applicants with engineering degrees," Hensley said, "and (Miller) was head and shoulders above them, both in knowledge and the appearance that he could take charge and lead.

"The other (finalist), while somewhat qualified, wasn't selected because Miller was such a perfect fit. He interviewed well and made a fine presentation, being highly qualified and motivated.

Miller, reached by telephone in Virginia where he is preparing for his move here, was upbeat and friendly.

He expects to start work Dec. 1.

Born in Effington, Ill., he moved with his mother to Escondido, in the San Diego area, when he was 10 and lived there until he moved to Virginia.

He and his wife Trinny are raising three children - Chris, 14; Caleb, 4; and Chanel, who will be 2 in a few weeks. California had become too congested for their taste and they moved to Virginia to provide a better enviornment for their children. Only it turned out, Miller said, that where they lived in Virginia was a little too much out of the way.

An avid hunter and fisherman who loves the outdoors, Miller said he can't wait to get settled in.

He said he strongly believes in cross-training. "Without a well-trained staff, you might as well shoot yourself in the foot," he said.

He also intends to start more closely tracking expenditures to make sure there are accurate and complete records that will make it possible to know what labor, equipment or materials are costing more, or saving money.

Miller said he comes with fresh ideas, but that doesn't mean he's going to toss out old ideas or ways of doing things without thinking twice.