Lagerbloom named Milton acting city manager

For the second time this year, Public Safety Director Chris Lagerbloom will step in as acting city manager for Milton.

Lagerbloom was appointed by a unanimous vote at a special called meeting Sept. 24 at City Hall. With now almost nine months in the job off-and-on, he has served as Milton's longest running city manager.

"Thank you Chris for stepping up," said Mayor Joe Lockwood.

Lockwood, who said earlier that he'd hoped to have a replacement for former City Manager Billy Beckett before his tenure was up, said in the meeting he expects to have a decision on an interim city manager within "two weeks."

Lockwood added the city has "some good candidates, so we'll be OK."

"I've committed to Chris it is for a very short time, and we'll keep the agenda light," he said. "We know you've got your other big job."

City Council will not meet again until Oct. 1. The biggest and longest running issue Milton has faced this year, sewer, was resolved by a 4-3 vote Sept. 15.

Lagerbloom previously served as city manager for eight months starting in August 2007 after Milton's first captain, Aaron Bovos, resigned following the city's failure to apply for an insurance premium tax kickback. He now works as deputy city administrator in Roswell.

"It's a short term thing," Lagerbloom said. "It was a fairly simple choice since I'd had the opportunity to do it just months prior."

Billy Beckett, a 30-year government veteran, joined Milton in late April, ending Lagerbloom's fill in period. Beckett tendered his resignation in late August, citing tensions with a minority of council members.

"At this point, I'm just making sure the business of the city doesn't fall apart in these two weeks," said Lagerbloom. "You know, making sure the bills are paid, the meetings are scheduled."
- www.northfulton.com

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