Smith reinstated, demoted at county highway dept.

Following more than two months of administrative leave, former county highway co-supervisor Jim Smith is scheduled to return to work on Thursday, in a different role.

Putnam County commissioner David Berry made the motion Wednesday to demote Smith from co-supervisor to a non-supervisory role beginning Thursday.

Commissioner Don Walton seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.

Smith was placed on administrative leave on Friday, June 28 during an emergency meeting of the commissioners. The leave was with pay and was indefinite in duration.

The exact origin of the problems is unclear, but based on comments by the commissioners, it apparently sprung from Smith's treatment of other county highway employees and the public.

Walton and county attorney Jim Ensley advised at that time they had met with Smith regarding some of the issues and his reaction was generally positive.

However, another incident followed the next day, and commissioners felt the need to act.

While it looked at the time as if the commissioners might terminate Smith's employment, they apparently felt demotion was the better course of action.

As a personnel matter, exact details of the incident were not made public, nor was the matter discussed publicly beyond the commissioners' decision.