Help is needed as the county looks for a new solid waste manager, and although it appeared they had their man, the board opted on Monday to advertise the position before making a hire.
Keon McCloud, who was hired earlier this year to head the county’s pilot garbage pickup program, resigned his position this week.
According to Chancery Clerk and County Administrator Dr. Gloria McIntosh, McCloud initially resigned to become a driver for the department, but she said she received a text during Monday’s board of supervisors meeting stating he would not be coming back in any capacity.
There was a request to receive and approve former Indianola Police Chief Markricus “Bo” Hibbler as a replacement for McCloud.
“It’s something different from anything that I’ve ever done,” said Hibbler. “It’s an interesting thing because a lot of people don’t think about, I would say ‘garbage.’ They don’t make it seem like it’s important, but if your garbage doesn’t get picked up, you know it becomes very important.”
Hibbler also believes his past experience in supervising would be beneficial as a solid waste manager.
“It wasn’t until I did my own thing which was policing, and that was my niche. I did it and I stuck with it. I was able to move up in rank because the people that were above me recognized that I was able to put people in positions for them to win,” he said.
Hibbler served as chief for the Sunflower County Consolidated School District until this past summer when he was hired as Indianola’s permanent chief. His tenure with IPD ended in just under 90 days.
Hibbler was on the agenda to be hired for the county’s position, but there was a desire among some of the supervisors to advertise the position before making the hire.
“I thought that we were going to advertise if we came to another position,” said District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald.
Donald made a motion to advertise, mentioning a promise that the board made to the public, specifically the local NAACP, that they would advertise positions publicly once they become available.
“Due to the emergency of the matter, I would like to replace Keon immediately,” said McIntosh.
McIntosh emphasized the need for supervising and managing of solid waste workers.
“Mr. Markricus is maybe the person. I have nothing against Mr. Markricus, but I just think we ought to do what we said we were going to do,” said Donald.
The Board is currently accepting applications, and they will conduct interviews on December 21. Those with CDL licenses are highly encouraged to apply.
