Douglas Baber
Jefferson County Manager
When I stepped into the role of Jefferson County Manager two months ago, I brought with me a simple promise to our community. Working under the leadership and direction of our Board of County Commissioners, I am committed to serving the citizens and visitors of Jefferson County with open and honest leadership, clear communication, and a steady dedication to making our community an even better place to live, work, and play. Reaching the 60-day mark gives me a quiet moment to look back on everything our staff has accomplished, recognize the incredible hard work of our county team, and share where we are headed next.
From day one, my focus has been on carrying out the Board's vision, listening to your concerns, supporting our county employees, and making sure local government runs smoothly and responsibly. I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome my family and I have received, and I appreciate the trust placed in me to manage our county's daily operations.
Empowering Our Team & Strengthening Our Community
A strong county relies on dependable infrastructure, safe neighborhoods, and well-maintained public spaces. Over the past two months, my main goal has been simple, make sure our county employees have the tools, equipment, and support they need to do their jobs well. The progress across our departments shows just how hard they are working for you:
• Public Works: Our road crews have been hard at work keeping our roads safe and smooth. They have tackled washouts, patched asphalt across the county, secured local dump sites, and kept major resurfacing projects moving forward on schedule.
• Public Safety & Emergency Services: Our Fire Rescue team continues to respond to calls around the clock, keeping their equipment ready and making sure our community events stay safe. At the same time, our Animal Control Officer has done incredible work handling calls, caring for local animals, and even hosting an adoption event to help find good homes for local rescue dogs.
• Parks & Facilities: Our maintenance teams have been busy giving our public spaces the care they deserve. They have cleaned and reopened several public restrooms, upgraded county buildings, repainted local signs, and started fixing up the walking track at Rec Park.
• Local Growth & Planning: Our Building and Planning teams are helping guide responsible local growth, families build new homes and working with businesses to bring new conveniences to our area.
Smart Financial Management
Delivering good services while protecting your hard-earned tax dollars takes careful management. Working side-by-side with Clerk of Court Trey Hightower, our Commissioners, and our Department Heads, we presented a solid county budget focused on sensible spending and long-term stability.
Our departments are also taking great care of what we already own by improving maintenance schedules for county trucks and equipment. At the same time, we are actively going after state and federal grants to bring outside money home so we can upgrade local facilities without placing an extra burden on our taxpayers.
Serving Our Families
Local government is about people, and our staff is constantly looking for ways to support our neighbors:
• Library & Community Services: Our local library continues to be a wonderful resource, signing families up for library cards, hosting community events, and partnering with local food pantries to help neighbors in need.
• Youth & Sports: Fall sports registration is underway through our Recreation Department, giving our young people great opportunities to play, learn, and stay active. Good news on this front, we are in the process of implementing an online registration and payment process for our Rec Park facilities and sports!
Looking Ahead Together
These first 60 days have shown me just how dedicated our county employees are to serving Jefferson County. As we move into upcoming budget hearings and fall projects, my commitment remains the same and my door is always open.
Together with the guidance of the Board of County Commissioners, we will stay focused on running an efficient government, supporting our workers, and preserving the quiet, historic, and rural character that makes Jefferson County such a special place to call home.
Thank you to the Board of County Commissioners for their guidance and trust, to our dedicated county staff for their hard work, and to the citizens of Jefferson County for allowing me the honor of serving as your County Manager.