Columbus well-served by Rhodes

Polk County and the citizens of Columbus are losing a top notch government professional a week from Friday.

Since 2002, Glenn Rhodes has put his many years of solid government experience to work for the Town of Columbus. Rhodes had worked as a town manager before, and had served as a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission staff, administering grants and advising regional governments.

Still, Rhodes was hired in Columbus as a town administrator. As such, his assignment was only to “oversee operations,” without any real authority over the town work force. A similar form of municipal government is still in place in Saluda, where each commissioner supervises a portion of town operations – water and sewer, police, streets. It can work, but can also be disastrous when politicians start manipulating simple business functions.

The Columbus Town Council in 2004 wisely opted to use Rhodes’ talents more fully and upgraded the position to town manager, the same form of government used in Tryon. Rhodes has improved Columbus’ financial standing, working with council to correct a deficient fund balance. Furthermore, his contacts and knowledge have enabled the town to take advantage of low-interest loans and grants for its water and sewer projects.
There are always some who think that government functions should cost next to nothing, and begrudge paying a professional’s salary. But a professional, like Rhodes, can actually save taxpayers money, many times over.

This is particularly true for Columbus today, a busy, fast-growing town, where new developers come knocking every week, it seems. Just keeping up with Columbus Commons, The Sanctuary and The Promontory is nearly full-time work. Here’s hoping Columbus can find another professional of the same calibre as Rhodes, whom we wish all the best in his new position with the state. — JB