Ann Dyer, Director of Finance, notified the Union County Finance Committee at the regular quarterly meeting in September that she would be retiring July 1, 2021.
Referencing scripture and the numbers seven and ten, Dyer believes that she was brought to Union County as a divine appointment to be secretary to Mayor Mike Williams in 2011.
From there she was called to become the first Union County Finance Director in 2013. She continued by saying that the number seven means completion and that describes her job to establish the finance department.
Further, she commented the number 10 means integration and she also believes that the entire county has been integrated not only financially, but also in cooperation and working together to make the county grow. Now she says that she must answer the call to look after her elderly mother and her brother.
Encouraging the committee to have a plan of transition, she recommended several steps. Most notably, Dyer offered Missy Brown, Deputy Finance Director, as her replacement in July of 2021.
The finance director explained that not only has Missy learned the job, but she also has the certifications and the excellent character and work ethic. In addition, Ann asked to work a 120-day contract as a deputy director in FY22 and be on call in case there are questions throughout the implementation of that budget. She suggested advertising the position by April and then the new director would hire the deputy director. With this plan, no new money would be necessary.
Committee members lauded her ideas, showered her with accolades, and took her advice on the new director. Dr. Jimmy Carter, Director of Schools, enthusiastically praised her for all she had done to help the school system become financially sound and correct in its fiscal policy.
“I am ready to make the motion to hire Missy Brown on July 1, 2021, but what is the procedure,” remarked Carter. Ready with the legal requirements, Dyer read the legal code that said that the choosing of the director is the job of the finance committee. So, Carter made the motion and Commissioner Janet Holloway provided a second. With unanimous consent, the plan of transition will be the same team, at least until November 2021, that has successfully led Union County to a budget with a surplus during a pandemic.
Mayor Bailey called her a “Rock Star” and quoted Ann Dyer's comment when he was first elected that mayors come and go, but the finance department is stable and remains from one administration to another.