Gaston makes history

A rapidly evolving push to solidify Gaston County’s top leadership going forward resulted in a new county manager being announced Monday afternoon.

Kim Eagle, who is now an assistant city manager with the city of Charlotte, will take over the role currently held by Gaston County Manager Earl Mathers and become Gaston's first female county manager in history. Mathers has been in the position since late 2013, but informed the Gaston County Board of Commissioners last week of his plan to retire on Dec. 31.

Eagle’s first day will be Aug. 5 and her starting salary will be $212,500. Plans are for Mathers to serve primarily in an advisory role for the new manager over the last five months of the year.

Eagle said in a prepared statement that she will be “extremely honored to serve as Gaston County’s manager.” She will oversee roughly 1,600 employees and an annual budget in excess of $300 million.

“I am very appreciative to the Board of Commissioners for giving me this opportunity,” she said. “I look forward to working with citizens, staff and the Board of Commissioners to build on the county’s past success, to ensure we provide excellent services and promote a high quality of life for our residents.”

Eagle now lives with her family on the Cleveland County side of Kings Mountain, but will be required to move to Gaston County in the near future.

"We have put that in her contract that she will have 12 months to make that move," said Gaston County Commissioner Ronnie Worley.

County commissioners earlier this year hired The Mercer Group, a headhunting firm, to fill their vacant assistant county manager position. The understanding all along, based in part on the advertised job description, was that whoever took that job would eventually move into the top post once Mathers was ready to retire. So when he made that announcement last week, commissioners said the hiring priority changed.

Commissioners met with Eagle during a closed session Friday morning at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Remount Road, before going public with her selection on Monday. They plan to formalize her appointment during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Gaston County Courthouse, with a reception to follow.

More than 70 applications were vetted by The Mercer Group, which the county paid about $23,000.

Eagle earned a bachelor’s degree from Wingate University, a master’s degree in public administration from Appalachian State University, and a doctorate in philosophy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She has worked for the city of Charlotte for 24 years, and has a wide range of operational, administrative and leadership experience.

Prior to being appointed as Charlotte’s assistant city manager, Eagle was responsible for the development and oversight of Charlotte’s annual operating budget and five-year community investment plan. She also directed performance management and strategic planning.

She has taught several graduate courses in public administration, published articles on administrative reform and performance measurement, and has led numerous workshops on strategic planning both at the local level and in conjunction with local governments and universities in Trinidad and Sweden, according to the Charlotte city website.

Speaking of Eagle’s qualifications on Friday, Worley described them as “very strong” and “excellent.” After commissioners took the list of 70 job candidates and compiled a short list of 'finalists' to interview in person, they decided to speak to Eagle first, in part because she lives so close by.

After her nearly two-hour interview on Friday, commissioners decided there was no point wasting time talking to anyone else, Worley said Monday.

"She was just head and shoulders above every person we looked at as far as resumes," he said. "She's a real star, has been with Charlotte quite a while and is not one of these journeymen who's moved around.

"We think we've got somebody who's here for the long term and will really do some exciting things for Gaston County."

Gaston County Commission Chairman Tracy Philbeck said the decision to hire Eagle was unanimous.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Eagle,” Philbeck said in a statement. “This is a groundbreaking opportunity for her as Gaston County’s first female county manager. (She) has extensive knowledge and understanding of our challenges and shares the values of our board and community.”

Specific details of how Mathers and Eagle will split the duties of county manager in the next few weeks and months have yet to be determined.

Eagle and her husband, Keith, have three school-aged children, and she said she is excited about her future in Gaston County.

“My family and I look forward to being a part of this amazing community,” she said.

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.