Emergency Management Director Gayle Beard attended her last Carroll County Supervisors meeting Feb. 25. Beard announced in December that she was retiring but stayed on a little longer until the position was filled.
New Emergency Management Director Ken Strachan took over the position. Strachan, who’s also the mayor of North Carrollton and an undertaker was appointed to fill the position left vacant by Beard.
Before the flooding, Strachan had been meeting with MEMA getting updated on what he’s required to do and meeting other EMA directors who all told him they would help him with whatever he needed help with.
Mother Nature also decided to congratulate Strachan on his new job and send hearty greetings by sending almost 10 inches to rain to Carroll County beginning Tuesday morning and ending Saturday night.
“Gayle went out with a bang and you came in with one,” Board president Rickie Corley said. The board thanked Beard for her service.
Beard has held many positions within the county working for Carroll County from 1996 to 2019. “I hope I don’t miss them all,” Chancery Clerk Sugar Mullins said. “You started out in sanitation, then you worked in my office and then you went to the sheriff’s department.”
“Yes sir,” Beard said.
“That’s a long time to work for the county, but you’ve done a good job and we appreciate you,” Corley told Beard. “Now, you can get some fishing in.”
Corley told the story of how Beard went to the Delta and helped work a flood years past with no lights and water.
All of the supervisors spoke highly of Beard and wished her well in retirement.
“I appreciate everything y’all have done for me and I thank y’all for the opportunity,” Beard said. “I’m going to miss coming to the meetings and being in the know. Before I knew things when they happened but now I guess I’ll have to hear it through the grapevine.”
Beard told them that if they ever needed anything she would help, just don’t call her.
“I changed my number,” she said laughing
She also left supervisors with a list of duties that she did. After Beard left, Strachan officially took over the reins.
“I’m glad that you all named me as director and I’m thankful to be your employee and I want us to work together,” Strachan said.
Strachan, who’s also the mayor of North Carrollton, told supervisors that all three towns are on board and are willing to help in any way they can.
“I’ve spoke with Mayor Mel Hawthorne and Mayor Pam Lee and they’ve both said whatever they need to do just let them know,” he said.
