Supervisors will be losing 2 more members

Department heads — don't come up to the podium.

That is the cry from the Glenn County Board of Supervisors this week after they received word two more long-time department leaders are retiring by the end of this year.

Agriculture Commissioner Mark Black and Personnel Director John Greco each announced their plans Tuesday during the public comment period - to the supervisors' dismay.

They join Finance Director Don Santoro on the retirement list since he told the board last week he will retire Dec. 30 as well.

Black has been with Glenn County seven years - heading a crucial department to the county's agricultural industry.

Black said following Tuesday's meeting he worked 28 years for Tehama County and two years for the state before joining Glenn County for a total of 37 years in government.

"It is time to move on," Black said. "My wife is getting ready to retire and it is time to pursue other goals."

Black said it will be up to the board who to appoint as his replacement but the successful candidate must be licensed by the state as an agriculture commissioner and possess a sealer of weights and measures certificate since that function also falls on the ag commissioner.

As for his staff, they have adjusted to changes in personnel since there have been several retirements since Black came here, he said.

"The staff will keep things going," Black said. "We have a leadership and management team to fill in the gaps while I'm gone."

Supervisors expressed surprise at the announcements.

"It will be hard to replace you," Supervisor Leigh McDaniel said of Black. "I wish you well, but I admit I'm a bit jealous. I have tried but never really retired."

McDaniel is a farmer in Hamilton City following his retirement in the aeronautics field.

"You will be more busy now than when you were working," Supervisor John Viegas said. "I really appreciated your forethought and strategic planning."

County Counsel Huston Carlyle Jr. also thanked Black and his staff for their professionalism and their role as teachers to him on agricultural regulations.

Greco then stepped to the podium and said he "appreciated working with Mark" before giving his own plan to retire.

The personnel director spent 19 years with Glenn County, he said, serving under five different boards of supervisors and working with numerous department heads.

"It seems like yesterday," Greco added, as he thanked his staff for "putting up with me" all these years.

Board Chairman Steve Soeth said "Nineteen years is a long time. I hope you will be available for the transition. We will miss you at the bargaining table."

"I truly enjoyed working with you," Supervisor Tracey Quarne said. "You know what you're doing and are honest and fair."

He added with the departure of the three men a tremendous amount of Glenn County institutional knowledge will walk out the door.

"We don't want to underestimate how smooth county operations are because of them," Quarne said.

Supervisor Mike Murray said "We will call you back and pick your brains" as needed.

Greco said his wife has a "Honey Do list" for him that is already starting, so he expects to be occupied in retirement.

Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com