CAIRO — Cairo City manager Chris Addleton is ready to take on the next phase in his life as he announced his retirement last Monday. 

Coming up on his 16th year in the position, Addleton said it was the right time to bring his city career to an end.   

“I’ve just reached a time in my life where I’m ready, willing and able to retire and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. 

After graduating from Georgia Technical College in 1982 with a bachelor’s in industrial engineering and later getting his master’s in business administration from Valdosta State University, Addleton sought new opportunities as he started working for the Torrington Bearing Plant Company in Cairo. 

He later worked his way up to plant manager, which he held for eight years. 

In 2005, Addleton had no problem moving into the city manager seat and making Cairo what he now calls his adopted hometown of 36 years.  

“I decided I wanted to stay in Cairo, and it was a good decision,” he said. 

Throughout his 15 years as city manager, Addleton has been through many tax increases, city COVID-19 mandates and budget setbacks due to the pandemic, but none have foiled with his greatest accomplishment, which he said is building Cairo’s infrastructure. 

“All our utilities have been upgraded infrastructure wise. Streets being paved, storm water issues being resolved — we’ve just done a tremendous amount of upgrades over the last 15 years,” he said. 

One of the most recent upgrades was done in 2020 on Cairo’s water system, which got a $4.7 million water treatment plant renovation. 

In 2019, the city got approval to use $800,000 for a city-wide street resurfacing project that improved over eight miles of highway pavement. 

“This has been a very fulfilling 15 years and I’ve really enjoyed being the city manager of Cairo,” he said. 

Addleton’s last day is set for April 15 but the search for a new city manager will begin in January.  

“I’m committed to a smooth transition and willing to work part time if the city of Cairo needs me,” he said.