20000701 Mike Evans, Carroll County Public Works Director asked to resign

Mike Evans, Carroll County Public Works Director asked to resign

Jul 1 2000 12:00 AM By Patrick Walters, Times Staff Writer.

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The Board of Carroll County Commissioners has told county public works director Mike Evans that they will fire him if he does not resign, according to two local officials.

The 57-year-old Evans, who has worked for the county since 1988, the past five years as director of the county's Department of Public Works, declined to comment on the issue Friday.

County department heads are appointed by the commissioners. The public works department, which has an operating budget of $9.95 million for fiscal year 2000, is responsible for roads operations, water and sewer projects, snow removal and other jobs.

Commissioners Julia Walsh Gouge, Robin Bartlett Frazier and Donald I. Dell did not return phone calls Friday regarding why the board is forcing Evans out.

Gouge and Dell were in their offices at the County Office Building Friday morning, but they apparently left through a private exit while a reporter sat in their office waiting room. Gouge's secretary said Gouge did not want to talk Friday morning.

It was not known when Evans needed to make his decision. The commissioners' schedule for Monday includes a closed session scheduled for 11 a.m.

According to the state's Open Meetings Law, the commissioners do not have to discuss personnel matters in open sessions.

Sykesville Town Manager Matthew Candland and Westminster City Councilman Kevin Dayhoff both said that the commissioners earlier this week told Evans he could either resign or have his employment with the county terminated.

Both declined to say who told them.

Dayhoff estimated he has worked with Evans since the late 1980s.

``I think it's an incredible loss to the county; this is a guy who has an incredible reputation for competence,'' Dayhoff said. ``I think they're shooting themselves in the foot.''

Candland and Dayhoff both said they were surprised when they learned that the commissioners were asking Evans to leave.

``There was no indication to me that there were any problems or rumblings,'' Candland said. ``I've always been very impressed with his work.''

Evans first started working for the county on Feb. 22, 1988, beginning his career as the director of permits and regulations. In 1995, the Board of Commissioners at the time Dell, Benjamin Brown and Richard T. Yates - appointed Evans to the position of public works director.

Before coming to Carroll, Evans worked in Anne Arundel County government from 1971 to 1987, in public works and permits and inspections. He also served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1965, and spent part of that time in Korea as a member of post-war peace-keeping forces.

Evans' education includes both a bachelor's degree in business and a master's in business administration from the University of Baltimore.

Candland said he usually works with Evans several times a month, including on recent public works projects such as the Fairhaven well and the realignment of Obrecht Road.

Taneytown City Manager Chip Boyles also said Friday he had not heard that Evans' job was in jeopardy.

He said he has worked with Evans' department on city takeovers of two roads, Stumptown and Trevanion, in recent years.

``He was just real understanding of what our concerns were,'' Boyles said. ``All my relations with him have been positive.''

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