Meeting the new city manager
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New Norris City Manager Adam Ledford, left, talks with some of those attending the meet-and-greet event held in his honor on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Norris Community Building. Seated, center, is Norris Mayor Chris Mitchell. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Norris City Manager Adam Ledford meets Anderson County Commissioner Shelly Vandagriff and Commission Chairman Joshua Anderson during a meet-and-greet event for Ledford at city hall on Oct. 25. - G. Chambers Williams III
Norris residents and others turned out by the dozens last Tuesday night (Oct. 25) for a special “meet-and-greet” event for Charles “Adam” Ledford, who began work Oct. 17 as the new Norris city manager.
Among the greeters were Mayor Chris Mitchell and some of the city council members, along with other city board and commission members, residents, and even the area’s two Anderson County commissioners – commission Chairman Joshua Anderson and Shelly Vandagriff.
A contract to hire Ledford, who goes by the name “Adam,” was approved on a unanimous vote by the Norris City Council in late September.
Ledford, 45, is a native of Eldorado, Illinois, and had been city administrator since 2016 in Marion, a town of about 3,000 people in western Kentucky. Before that, he was city administrator in Sac City, Iowa, from 2008-16.
Ledford replaced Scott Hackler in the Norris city manager position. Hackler resigned in June, citing health reasons.
The new Norris city manager holds a master of public administration degree in local government from City University in Seattle, Washington; a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Park University, Park, Missouri; and an associate of arts degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois.
He also has an internal auditor certification from Texas Auditor Development in Austin.
In the lead-up to the vote to offer the job to Ledford, Norris Councilwoman Loretta Painter said: “I believe he is the person who can lead us through the humps and bumps we’re facing.”
On Monday, Painter said she has high hopes that Ledford can take care of several issues the city is facing, including problems with its sanitary sewer system, which is facing about $7 million in upgrades mandated by the state of Tennessee’s environmental regulators.
Ledford was chosen during the city’s second attempt to find a new city manager.
After the council’s first chosen candidate turned down the job Aug. 8, the council voted to reopen the selection by advertising again for applicants.
During that process, Ledford emerged as the top candidate among about 40 who applied for the position.
Shortly after accepting the job, Ledford told The Courier News:
“I was very fascinated with the community. I am both excited and scared. …
“Obviously, I know they have some challenges that are short-term and long-term.”