The Waycross City Commission has hired Ulysses Rayford as City Manager following a search that lasted more than 13 months in two versions.
Rayford’s employment came in a resolution passed by the commission at its bi-monthly meeting Monday, February 6 at City Hall. The Columbus, Ga., native and career member of the United State Army, was hired at a base salary of $110,000 on a one-year contract.
He’ll officially begin his duties Tuesday, March 7, which coincides with the commission’s meeting of the month. Rayford replaces Tonya Parrish, who left the city payroll December 15, 2021 to become City Manager in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Rayford, who was at Monday’s meeting, describes himself as a “people person.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity the city and commission have given me,” he said after the meeting. “The city already is doing great things. Whatever we’re not doing great, is where we need to put focus.”
Rayford, who has relatives in the Augusta and Albany areas, said the citizens and transparency will be key components of his service.
“I believe in putting people first,” he said. “The citizens really need to believe in the process and transparency will be an emphasis. We work for the citizens to try to make sure they have what they need, and hopefully what they want.”
Rayford was a 31-year member of the United States Army. He most recently served from March 2019 to March 2022 as Deputy Chief of Staff at the rank of G-9 Sergeant Major with the Department of Defense.
He was one of two finalists named November 29 to replace Parrish, who held the job about 34 months. The other, Stuart Truille, said Sunday, January 22 in a text message to the Journal-Herald that he had withdrawn his candidacy earlier in the month to pursue a position in Virginia, his place of residence, in view of inaction by the commission on filling the job.
When Rayford and Truille were announced as finalists in a legal advertisement in the Journal-Herald, it pegged the commission’s bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, December 20, 2022, as the first time for action on the two men.
The issue was not included on that meeting’s agenda. It also didn’t appear on either of the agendas for the commission’s two business meetings held January 3 and 17.
Commissioners, however, did meet in executive session to discuss personnel after each of the planning and information sessions that were held before the business meetings on the two days in January.
In his text, Truille said: “As no decision was reached, I’m pursuing an offer in Virginia. Thank you, Stuart Truille.”
His withdrawal left Rayford, who also lives in Virginia. He said in a reply to an email from the Journal-Herald Friday, January 20, he remained a candidate despite no decision on the post.
In his email, Rayford replied: “I am still very interested in the position and awaiting additional feedback. Hopefully, we will know something soon.”
The two men emerged from a group of 23 applicants in the second edition of the search to replace Parrish. They were chosen as finalists during an executive session after a November 28, 2022 called meeting of the commission that followed interviews earlier in the month.
The city had operated with an Acting City Manager for 418 days before Rayford was hired. Police Chief Tommy Cox will continue in that role until Rayford takes over.
Fire Chief David Eddins replaced Parrish when she left. Eddins was replaced on June 15 by Community Improvement Director Marc Hawkins, who was succeeded December 15 by Police Chief Tommy Cox.
The City Charter prohibits a person in the acting role to serve more than six months during any one search.
The second search began in July after commissioners failed to reach a consensus on June 21, 2022 between finalists Joey Cason, Patrick Simmons and Chandler Williamson.
That trio was determined from a group of 45 candidates in the initial search that began in early January, 2022. None of the three was a candidate in the second version.
Parrish, then Tonya Miller, was hired in Waycross with the commission’s approval of a resolution on February 20, 2019. The Savannah native had been Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer for the Glynn County Board of Commissioners before taking the position in Waycross.
Her hiring ended a six-month search by the city following the commission’s dismissal of Raphel Maddox for “inappropriate conduct in the workplace.” She was the only finalist from group of 21 candidates.
