THOMASVILLE — The newly-appointed interim Thomasville Utilities general superintendent plans to be at the post for about six months, he said Tuesday.

“That’s what we talked about,” said Keith Bass, hired Monday after a Thomasville City Council 4-1 vote that had heated exchanges. “This is certainly not a long-term situation.”

The utilities general superintendent and city manager positions were combined during the last two city managers’ employ. Steve Sykes, most recent city manager, resigned in December 2017. Two council members were ousted at the polls in late 2017, and the new council opted to separate the positions.

Bass said once details are worked out with the city council, he would like to begin Monday, March 19.

He will help conduct a search for a permanent general superintendent. 

“Hire local if you can,” Bass, 63, said.

A Marietta resident since 1974, Bass plans to live in Thomasville while working for the city.

Bass attended a council workshop last week. 

“I was there to meet the council, but we ran out of time,” he said.

The city did not advertise the position. Mayor Greg Hobbs said Monday Bass was not required to apply for the job. The hiring was not handled through the city human resources department.

Bass’ resume shows he was president/chief executive officer of Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) from 2009-13. Since 2013, he has been principal in an energy and and business management concern. He also has been employed by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia.

He was terminated by ECG.

“The (ECG) board and I had a disagreement about the future of the organization,” Bass said. “The board felt like the organization should go in one direction, and I believed it should go in a different direction.”

The vote to terminate Bass was 4-3, he said, adding that the three board members who supported him resigned immediately.

Bass said he has always worked in electricity in his career and has been involved in other utilities.

“There’s a lot of utilities expertise in Thomasville,” he said.

Bass said the city’s wholesale electricity purchase, primarily from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, is a huge portion of the city’s costs. Making electricity rates commensurate with purchase costs is mandatory, he added.

“You’ve got to be able to recover the cost,” Bass said.

Bass, who said he has a strong background in budgeting, wants to help Thomasville Utilities employees meet challenges.

“We still have a few details to work out,” Bass said, in reference to his assuming the interim position.

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