McKean County’s first-ever administrator has resigned to pursue
other interests in North Carolina.

On Monday, the county commissioners announced that County
Administrator Richard Casey, who has served in the post since 2004,
will leave the job, effective April 8. The search will begin
immediately for his replacement.

In the announcement, the commissioners said county solicitor and
Human Resources Director Michele Alfieri will act as interim
administrator until a permanent administrator is found.

Casey said Monday afternoon that he has mixed emotions about
leaving, but that he had been offered a position as town manager of
Newport, N.C., a growing coastal community of about 4,000, and the
opportunity was too good to pass up.

The 54-year-old Casey spent 29 years in the U.S. Air Force,
retiring as a brigadier general in 2004. He noted that his military
life had been “nomadic,” but that more time had been spent in North
Carolina than any other place, and that he and his wife had an
attachment to the area, feeling it was like home.

“Many factors influenced this decision,” he explained, “but a
major one was our desire to move back to the Southeast.” He also
noted the Newport manager job would offer new challenges, something
that he was ready for at this point in his life.

While he is “excited” about the new job and its challenges,
Casey said he regrets “leaving a place where I’ve been part of so
many positive changes.” He called his time in McKean County “a
great opportunity” and said “it was a privilege to work with this
board of commissioners.”

Commissioner John Egbert said Monday that he was sorry to see
Casey go, calling him a “great asset,” but that he understood the
reasons behind the move, noting the Outer Banks area where Newport
is located is a good place to live, with a comfortable climate.

Commissioner Chairman Clifford Lane echoed Egbert’s
comments.

“Dick has done very well in the past three years,” Lane said.
“We’ve been pleased with what he’s done.

“We regret he’s leaving, but do understand why he’s doing so. He
has done a great job for us and we’ve been very pleased with
him.”

Lane also explained that Alfieri will fill in the administrator
role after Casey leaves.

In the meantime, Casey will brief Alfieri on county business,
which, in her current positions, she’s already up to speed on most
things, Lane said.

Since her salary is already in the range for a county
administrator, she will receive no further stipend for the extra
responsibility.

Casey receives a salary of $87,942.

The county will put out an advertisement for the nationwide
search to replace Casey permanently, Lane said.

“We feel it’s nearly impossible to get somebody in place by
April 8. It will likely, and this is just my thoughts, be a minimum
of three months before we are able to name somebody.”

This board of commissioners created the position of
administrator, along with a number of others, as part of the “New
Directions” effort to give county management a more businesslike
structure.

“We still believe that’s the way to go,” Lane said. “We don’t
think any different now than four years ago when we ran. We believe
you have to have a professional manager in there to take care of
the day-to-day things that come up in the county.”

Among the things Casey has been involved in include sitting on
the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, handling union
negotiations, being on the Office of Human Services Governing Board
and a non-voting member of the county’s prison board.

Regarding Casey’s seat on the airport authority, Lane said the
commissioners will likely look to the airport’s advisory board to
make a recommendation for a replacement.

While Casey was the first administrator, he was not the
commissioners’ first choice; they had originally appointed Dennis
Luther, who resigned before actually beginning his duties. Luther
was later appointed warden of the county prison, and served in that
position for more than a year.

All three commissioner seats are up this election season. The
New Directions Team ran on the premise they would not collect the
entire pay for commissioner, but would put that money towards a
county administrator salary. Since then, those seeking re-election
have indicated they will take the full salary if re-elected. No
other candidate has said they would not take the full pay in lieu
of the county administrator.

(Era Associate Editor Mike Schreiber contributed to this
article.)