THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Keith Bass is returning Saturday to his century-old lemon tree and his Marietta home.

For the past six months, Bass has lived in the heart of Thomasville. From windows of his nostalgic abode, one view is of the old train depot, another is of the intersection of Remington Avenue and West Jackson Street and in all views is a constant stream of hectic downtown traffic.

Bass, Thomasville Utilities interim general superintendent since mid-March, has resided in a red-brick renovated building that once housed a Gulf service station. The structure, a three-minute walk from his temporary job, also is known as “the radiator shop.”

For 25 years, two Thomasville city managers also served as general utilities superintendent. After Steve Sykes, former city manager/utilities general superintendent, left city government at the end of 2017, the council, which included two new members elected in late 2017, decided to separate the jobs.

The council recruited Bass, who has four decades of electric experience, to come to Thomasville and help secure a permanent utilities superintendent. That did not happen.

When Bass came onboard, it was rumored he would be a hatchet man to begin the process of firing certain city employees. 

“It was in my contract that I could neither hire nor fire,” Bass said.

Instead of making enemies, friendships developed among city employees and local residents.

“We were extremely fortunate to have someone of Keith’s caliber and expertise as part of our team,” said Chris White, assistant utilities superintendent. “He has served every electric city in Georgia through the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Electric Cities of Georgia. He presented some new ideas for system reliability improvements, and highlighted needed cost-of-service studies and rate designs. He was highly complimentary of the Team Thomasville culture and the unified organizational commitment we have to serve our community.”

White said Bass leaves behind “some great relationships and new-found friendships for life.”

Lynn Williams, assistant city manager of economic development/communications, has known Bass for a number of years.

“I didn’t fully appreciate his knowledge and insight of the electric industry and utilities in general until working with him here in Thomasville,” she said. “Keith came in and immersed himself in the organization and really became a true member of Team Thomasville.”

City staff will miss Bass’ guidance, encouragement and quick wit, Williams said.

Said Kha McDonald, interim city manager, “It’s been a pleasure. I learned a lot.”

Vicky Bryson, executive administrative assistant to the city manager, echoed McDonald’s sentiments. 

“He’s really opened up my eyes a lot,” she said.

Bass agrees city manager and utilities superintendent jobs should be separated. 

“The job’s too big for one person,” he said.

City council is on the verge of hiring a new city manager. Bass told council the new utilities superintendent should report to the city manager. If the utilities head reports to the council, council members will become referees, he added.

It has been said by some council members that a Thomasville city manager/utilities superintendent has too much power. Bass said a city manager has only as much power as the council allows.

“I don’t think I accomplished as much as I had hoped to. … I wish (the council) had listened to me more,” Bass said.

He found city departments, including police and fire, in better shape than he has seen elsewhere.

While in Thomasville, Bass conducted a study of city public safety functions.

“I looked at turnover rates in both police and fire. Turnover rates have not been excessive,” he said. “In fact, turnover here is less than in hundreds of police departments nationwide. Police departments are having a terrible time recruiting and keeping officers.”

Bass, 64, is retired, a status he will resume upon returning home.

An avid plant person, Bass and his wife of 34 years, Melinda, a retired teacher, care for a large potted lemon tree previously the property of and nurtured by Bass’ late father. The old tree spends winters in the couple’s basement. It now has two lemons as big as grapefruits.

The tree was part of his father’s Adairsville Georgia Power Company office decor for decades. When his dad retired in 1984, Bass took the orphan tree. His father had no place to keep it at his home. 

Bass’ first grandchild is due in March — an event he and his wife eagerly anticipate.

The departing interim utilities superintendent has a couple of sayings. One is, “If it ain’t broke, break it.”

A second saying he applied to the turmoil currently permeating city council: “You can throw water on a steel ball, but you can’t make it soak in.”

Bass has witnessed other cities in turmoil. He described a city governing body where name-calling and fist fights took place at meetings.

When asked if he thinks the Thomasville City Council situation will ease and disappear, Bass said, “I don’t know if it can or not.”

Bass said that in his 40 years in electric work, he has witnessed a lot of drama.

“I’m going to make retirement stick this time,” he said. “I’m tired of the drama.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820