Decatur County Administrator Gary Breedlove announced his resignation Wednesday morning, effective April 30.

“Fellow Team Members, the BOC, through Chairman Dennis Brinson, and I have agreed to a ‘contract separation agreement’, and I will serve through April 30, 2015,” Breedlove wrote in an email to county department heads and employees. “Under the current circumstances, I believe this is the best course for Decatur County. More importantly, I want each of you to know that it has been my honor to work with you toward the betterment of everyone in Decatur County. I greatly appreciate your dedicated support and hard work toward that goal and ask you to continue your best professional efforts as we go forward. We have a lot to get done this month. I pray God’s blessings on you and your families.”

Breedlove had no further comments to make.

Brinson said the separation agreement would pay Breedlove his salary of $7,000 per month until June 30, the date his contract with Decatur County ends. The Decatur County Board of Commissioners voted on a 12-month contract extension for Breedlove in July 2014.

Brinson declined any further comment.

“(Breedlove) brought Decatur County back out of bankruptcy,” Commission Vice Chairman Pete Stephens said. “I appreciate the job he has done. Regretfully, he has had a real tough time dealing with this service delivery strategy settlement. I understand his frustration, I support his frustration, but I feel that five commissioners felt this was the thing to do, and we made the best decision possible under the circumstances we were in.”

Bainbridge and Decatur County voted on a new service delivery strategy resolution on March 12 after two days of mediation at the Decatur County Courthouse. Breedlove expressed his objection to the resolution after the Board of Commissioners voted to approve it.

Commissioner Butch Mosely said he appreciated Breedlove’s work during his tenure as Decatur County Administrator, but emphasized moving forward to find an experienced county administrator.

“Someone with experience with county management, someone who understands service delivery and county operations and someone with a skillset of public relations,” Mosely said.

Brinson is in charge of forming a committee to search for a new county administrator. Job postings have already been released.

Commissioner Russell Smith said it was time for a clean slate after the recent service delivery strategy settlement between Bainbridge and Decatur County.

“(Breedlove has) done an excellent job to move the county forward,” Smith said.

Commissioner George Anderson said it would be difficult to find someone to replace Breedlove.

“We have some hard shoes to fill,” Anderson said. “It’s going to be rough, but I guess we’ll make it. He was great.”

“I would like to thank Col. Breedlove for his tireless service to our community,” Commissioner Rusty Davis said. “He took over the leadership of our county during a challenging time and has helped guide us through some difficult changes. On a personal note, I would like to thank him for the time he spent educating me about each of the county departments and how they work. I will be a better commissioner because of his efforts. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”