Coweta combines personnel, public affairs departments
By SARAH FAY CAMPBELLsarah@newnan.com
Coweta County has combined its personnel and public affairs departments into a new department, Community and Human Resources.
The new department is headed by Patricia Palmer, previously the county’s public affairs director and public information officer.
“With the retirement of Rick Watson, we had an opportunity to consider other structures and options, and as a result, we are combining two departments,” Palmer said. “By combining these areas and not filling that position, we are able to eliminate one position. This is similar to what we’ve done with Business License, with the Building Department and Code Enforcement,” she said.
The new department will still have the two human resources employees, one full-time and one part-time, who worked under Watson. All payroll functions are handled by the county’s finance department.
Tom Corker, who is currently administrative and operations director and was public information officer prior to Palmer’s hiring, will take on some communications/public information duties while retaining some of his current administrative duties, Palmer said.
Palmer will continue to be the initial contact person for public information.
