Another key city official to retire

Harbin originally planned to retire at the end of December just before turning 62 in January, but moved it forward for health reasons.

“I’ve had these health issues with muscle weakness,” he explained. “It started in February and it’s just got so bad it’s all I can do to walk. It’s some nerve condition that causes muscle pain and weakness.”

Harbin said he made the decision to retire early so he could concentrate on getting better.

“One of the things I’m going to have to do is intensive, like a rehab — more than physical therapy — to build muscle strength back up.”

Harbin took a buyout option after serving as an engineer with Bell South for 24 years, retiring with full benefits. Bryant hired him to take over the increasing administrative duties in anticipation of major expansion projects at the city’s water plant (in 2000) and its waste treatment plant (2005).

“Nobody (in the city) had ever held the position. My job was to handle the administrative parts, dealing with regulatory agencies and all the construction,” Harbin said. “It just got overwhelming for him to deal with all the regulatory agencies and with everything else going on in the city. This job is more administrative than day-to-day hands-on.”

The regulatory pressure since that time has actually decreased, Harbin noted, largely because with the improved facilities “we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”

Harbin takes special pride in the encouragement of water and sewerage employees to gain or upgrade their certifications.

“Tom (Berry, the interim city manager) was amazed at the number of certified operators we have for a city our size,” he said. “That is one of my fortes, training and education.”

The city begins advertising for the position this week. Ads will run in MainStreet Newspapers, on the Georgia Municipal Association website and will be posted with the Georgia Rural Water Association and the Association of Water professionals.

“It will be a statewide if not southeast posting,” said Harbin.

The city seeks someone with state certifications in water and wastewater, a minimum two-year degree or equivalent experience — which Harbin puts at 15-20 years — in the water industry.

“That’s going to be hard to find,” he predicted.